KS State Championships = Snow Cross

The snow wasn't too deep, but it was frozen and crunchy out in the prison town of Leavenworth, KS. Temps were around 20 with windchills in the single digits. Luckily or unluckily the cat3 race was the last one of the day, starting at 2:15. At least this gave me time to spend with the fam in the morning and not run off at first light. The forecast had predicted freezing rain, but that held off until today, only some light snow and cold weather. The weather did scare off a few, but the usuals were all there and ready to rock it in the snow. This is actually one of the first wintery weather races we've had this season. I am the defending Missouri State Champ from last year, but the race was being held in St Louis, so had to skip it due to the weather and driving time.

Line up, get the whistle from behind and it's Go Time! Nail it and get the holeshot. Lead the first lap, taking some of the sections cautiously as I didn't pre-ride the whole course. About 3/4 of the way through the first lap a guy passes, but immediately goes down cuz he took the corner too fast. He's back up and I just grab on and don't let him get too far ahead. Another guy goes by me at the start/finish area and now I'm sitting in 3rd. Not feeling too bad, but not feeling that strong either. Not sure when the next two went by but think it was about midway through the 2nd lap. Just keep going strong and now to try to reel these guys back in as I'm now in 5th.

The Start

kB got the holeshot


End of the 1st lap
Bridge up, Rest, Attack, and Repeat. Three times and now back in 2nd, but Pink Pippy Longstockings is on my tail and I can't seem to shake him. Bell lap and I'm pinning it out of every corner trying to get a comfortable gap, but he's still there. Finally nearing the finish and my fave spot on the course, a long straight away the turns left into a downhill with another immediate left, so essentially a 180 with a downhill on the turn. Each time I'd use those moto-x skills...put the leg out and let the ass end slide around and get right back on the gas. This time didn't let it swing out too wide and really stood on it and got a gap and sprinted to the finish line. I really had to work for that 2nd place. Now on to Nationals, just a few days away and nasty weather hitting hard in KC.





Snow Angel

Boss Cross #2 - From the Banks of the Mighty Mo

The finale of the Boss Cross series took place on a true 'Crossy' day in the city of Parkville. For the past two days we've had rain, freezing rain, and temps in the 30's so it was bound to be muddy. The course was right on the banks of the mighty Missouri river in a little park. There was lots of sand fo' sho' and a couple wet muddy sections. The places that were not truly muddy, were soft enough to suck the energy and juice for everybody's legs. The winds were howling with gusts in the 30's which had to bring the wind chill down into the teens.

I got my pit bike built up this week so was ready to finally have them both at a race. Even better I had my boy Bob there to work the pits for me. True Pro stylie, pit man Bob in the coveralls ready to handle whatever the race might throw at us. The start was pretty typical with most of the usuals lined up and ready to roll. Ready Go! and we're off. I take 2nd into the holeshot and sit on the leaders wheel for the better part of the first lap. I pull away and have a pretty good lead for the next couple laps, then come the "Kid" and he goes by but I'm attached to his wheel like a tick! We have a good gap on the rest of the field and next thing you know Chris misses a corner and I take the lead again and pull away. Another lap and I'm going over the bridge which then drops off about a foot into a downhill section... big wind and I land a little sideways on the front wheel and roll it. I stopped quickly and find the tubular rolled in a small section. I push it back on and have to make my way 3/4 of lap back around to the pit thru big mud puddles, muddy ruts, and sand sections. The kiddo gets a big gap on me and I roll into the pits and do it true "Pro" stylie with Bob holding the fresh bike and taking the old without missing a step or letting the chase get a second on me. Unbelievable!! First pit bike change and it came off perfect. Bob's my pit-man for sure at Nationals, great practice run.

The rest of the race went like this. Songer is on my wheel for at least two laps and I know he's resting up back there ready to pounce. He makes his move and I try to stay on. It doesn't happen and his gap gets to at least 100 meters. Chris aka the "Kid" flats and we go past him while he's running to the pits (a long way). Try as I might, I just can't bridge up to Songer. Damn, the "W" has contined to elude me all season and I ended up 2nd place. Things could be worse, much worse and each race I feel a little stronger and always seem to have some unexpected challenge to deal with. A tire, a crash, detour, you call it.... experience is the best teacher.

Belgium Bound

It's official, we are heading to Mol, Belgium for the Masters World Championships in Jan08!! Oh my this is exciting. It's been on my mind all year, but just hadn't pulled the trigger. When a few locals were going and had everything lined up for accomodations, it made it that much easier. Mark from localcycling.com has been over for the last 3 or 4 years and has it down pat. He has friends on the ground and knows how to navigate the country on a budget. We'll be staying at Zilvermeer, right on the race course, in some cool little A-frame cabins. Since my better half is coming too, we've planned it so I race about the 3rd day there, then vacation/party the rest of the time. We'll for sure hit Hoogerheide for the World cup race on Jan20, then off to Brugge, Antwerp, maybe a couple days in Amsterdam, and if everything works out right cap it off in Paris.

So right now its just get through the massive workload, keep training for Nationals, take a week break, Christmas, then ramp it back up for the final stretch into Worlds. It weird to even say that, but its ON! I'm going to Belgium!!

Jingle Crossings & Ferris Wheel Lines

Well two days of racing a difficult course at the Jingle Cross races in Iowa City, IA left the legs feeling a little weary. It was mad fun though!! Huge fields, new bike, cold weather, what else could you want? The staging was done by registration and bib# so I was in the back. #74 of 90 something starters on Day 1, which was the last couple of rows. I couldn't see or hear the ref and next thing you know people are going and I still have my jacket on. Throw the jacket and let 'er rip and tear through the field, taking no prisoners. The first runup was mayhem... everybody was falling and couldn't get any traction up the muddy slope. By the 2nd lap I'm sitting in 4th!!! Few more laps go by and one of the KC locals swings by me and I grab his wheel. He bobbled in the sand section and I went down behind him... he got a gap on me and I could never bring it back. My shifter would not shift after getting gummed up with sand so I was constantly struggling with that the rest of the race. Finished in 6th, felt pretty good. The X-Fire performed great and felt so light on the runups and barriers. I'm really going to like this bike.

Day 2 - It was rumored the top 10 from day 1 would get call-ups to the front, so I was ready for the chance to make the podium. Well it didn't happen and again last 2 or 3 rows in a 110 person field. The course was reversed today with a long steep runup. Tried to get through the field today but everytime I'd make a move, somebody was flailing in front of me. Two big crashes in the first lap made things intersting, luckily I steered clear. Keep slogging through them and near the end of the first lap, I'm passing on an inside corner of a tight muddy section and I literally get pushed into a bush. There I am hanging off the ground, sticks poking my back, feet still in the pedals when I hear and I quote "That's what you get mother fucker!" I don't even know what to say.... pull myself out of the sticks, get going, and catch right back up to the guy and was like what was that... he says "wait your turn". My response "This is a race you punk, not a line for the ferris wheel!", accellerate and dust him. Make my way to 11th and that's all I had. The huge runup killed me. I still couldn't believe the attitude from this guy, sure I made a hard inside turn which probably cut him off a little, but they were going slow and I had already made up 60-70 places, come one. If you aren't aggressive you can sit at the back and that's where you should be.... or in line for the ferris wheel.

Here's some video from my teammate Mr. Dunsmuir of the Elites on the first runup.

Check out the pics.

Wells taking snapshots .. of me

Elite Lineup - Horner Tilly Wells

Muddy Runup

SupaFast Downhill - Bjorn

Markos Bob Brown

Thanksgiving Day Double

The weather has finally turned to winter. Snow and temps in the 20’s, yowzers. Out here in rural northern Missouri, the roads aren’t that safe, so I rode around until I found the ultimate training spot, the country club golf course!! Hopped the gate and got to it. What a great place to ride! In the interest of not getting into too much trouble if I got caught, I stayed close to the cart path on the grass or gravel trail. Rode for about an hour in the spitting snow then headed back to the house, by the time I got home my feet and ears were frozen. It took hours for the toes to come around even after a hot shower. Ate like a champ and of course the Thanksgiving post-meal coma set in hard. Took a 2.5 hour nap, holy crap… that never happens. Woke up about 4:30 and thought, “hmmm, maybe I should go for another ride?”. Geared up and headed in a different direction this time. It was starting to get dark so I steered to one of the nearby dirt roads that led to a conservation area. It was actually a nice ride with lots of up and down. I went by this big group of cows and then they started pacing me down the fence for a long way. The whole bunch of 30 of them, running next to me on the road was kinda funny. I had to stop and take a pic… eyes in the dark. Got chased by one dog , it was hard to tell how close it got, but I just stayed on the gas and he never got my leg so guess not too close.

The Fields Have Eyes

A Day in the Life...

Thinking back to a previous post about the Juggling act we non-pro racers go through, I was inspired to delve into a little more. As I began the last 4 week phase of training before Nationals, work has also started its year-end run for the finish line. The workload at this time of the year is at it’s max, two seriously high profile projects are in the works as well as prepping for Cross Nationals. Below is a recap of last week's Monday leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The rest week ended Sunday with a 2.5 hour easy road ride. Then trying to get ahead on the week, I worked from about 6pm to 1am Sunday night. Monday started early and ended late. The day went in this order….work, training, dinner & family time, re-glue tubie, and build the X-Fire.

7am Start work put in 10 hours on revenue targets

5pm Time to ride 1.5 hours EZ spin with the LTrain out on the road 75 degrees!

6:30 Family Time --Help with Dinner, time with the kiddos, then bedtime
9pm Start the re-glue process – another layer on the rim and base tape. Sunday night I was looking at the Dugast and pulled it back a little and the tire totally came off in a section. Ripped the whole thing off and time to re-glue - ugggg

10pm Get some libations going, crank up the tunes and build up the Ridley

11pm Another bourbon rocks

1am Finally getting everything done and adjusted – fatigue is setting in.
1:30am Head to bed and get some rest before 7am hill repeats and the test flight on the X-Fire.

Oh man, this is hard work. What would it be like to have a mechanic? Or a Nanny? Or Just get paid to Ride? I’m sure it wouldn’t be any easier, just different. On with it…

X-Fire takes Flight

The X-Fire is freshly built with one test flight under her now. Getting ready to load it up on the car and head out. I'll put it through the paces this weekend with back to back race days in Iowa at the Jingle Cross. The massive hill will test its climbing ability and descending prowress. This baby weighs in at less than 18 pounds!! Lugging it up those hills might be a bit easier than before.

Euro on Euro

Snow is starting to fall today, then the weather is supposed to clear up for the weekend. The temps are expected to be around 40 degrees for the high in Iowa, so this is going to be perfect cross weather... FINALLY!!

Jingle Cross - - Heartland Tour

There's going to be some miles put on the ride this weekend as we make our way to the Jingle Cross races (approx 800 with all the detours). Leave Kansas City today heading to Milan, MO for Thanksgiving with some of the in-laws. Leave the kids there with Grandma for a couple days of R&R (Rest & Racing). The tour leaves Milan and heads north to Des Moines, IA for a visit with some great friends (old Denver friends), then to Iowa City on Saturday morning for races on both Saturday and Sunday. When we are totally exhausted on Sunday afternoon, we'll bounce back down to Milan, spend the night, and finally head back to KC on Monday.


View Larger Map

Milan is conveniently situated in the northern part of Missouri near Iowa, with no access to interstates or major highways, just twisty curvy back country roads littered with farm trucks, tractors, and deer. This makes for an extraordinarily long trip to and fro.

Rest Week and Nats Course Ride

Luckily this was a scheduled rest week as work is smoothering me, its really starting to stress me out. This juggling act of Family, Work, Training, and Racing can be likened to that guy juggling the 4 flaming objects as another gets thrown in, what will happen? Will he keep them all spinning in a harmonious cycle or will they all come crashing down in a flaming fury? A couple runs and some easy road rides was really it this week with the exception of yesterday. On Saturday an "unannounced" show and go on the Nationals course was rumored to be happening so of course I went out there to see who was going to show and throw down. By the time we got rolling, there were 25-30 peeps to ride in the course and test the newly built stairs. The Start/Finish long paved hill is hard! Each time thru, it gets steeper and longer. The stairs are also going to be a big factor in the race as they are right before that finish section. There are probably 12-15 steps on each of the TWO back to back Stair sections. The steps aren't that tall, but the spacing is just enough to make it awkward. Not close enough to take 2 steps and far enough to make it a real long one step/leap. Trebon and Wicks won't have any trouble, but for the rest of us not endowed with 40 inch inseams, it will be challenging. At the top of the 2nd set, there is another 50m of slight uphill.... to run or remount, it could be the deciding factor. I didn't get a pic yesterday, but I'll try to post one soon.

The Powers Stack

Steve-Z Photography caught this sweet sequence at the recent Redline Cup at the Boulder Res. Jeremy Powers is the Sinsei of bunny hopping barriers but it is nice to see he is human. As many times as he flawlessly bounds over the barriers, we all know he must have stacked it hard trying to perfect his technique. Double click to enlarge the sequence to get a close-up view of this, you might not see it again.




In the first photo he has the look of 'Oh Shit here we go'. In the 2nd photo, he's setting up the landing with the flying squirrel. And finally the roll, right up to the barrier. A little further and he'd been right on top of the 2nd barrier, yikes. JPows is still super-human in my book.

The Eagle has Landed... Repeat the Eagle has Landed

I should really say the Phoenix has landed cuz this beeeatch is on Fire. The X-Fire arrived on the doorstep the other day and finally got some pics of it to post up before I gets her built up. Missing parts you say? Oh Yes, Missing parts that are integral to getting it built up. Headset is missing one cup, bearings, top cap, and the seatpost wasn't in the box. Sinclair is hooking it up though with an overnight delivery... new headset and a Ritchey post as the Thomson is on backorder. So they should be here on Friday and I'll be riding the Nationals course on Saturday for another "practice" race to ride the course in.

Initial impressions:
1. The all carbon is HOT!
2. The seat stays and chain stays look like ripped calves with those sculpted lines
3. Paint job is sick - nuff said
4. It weighs next to nothing and wondering what it will end up at on the scale fully built

Check it out...

Sweet Simplicity


Now those are some legs


A headshot for the books


TailFeathers/flattened brake bridge...ooooooo

The final build will look something like this:
SRAM Rival Shifters
Salsa Bell Lap bars
Thomson Stem
Cane Creek Aros 58 carbons
Dugast Rhino tubulars
TRP CR950 Carbon Canti Brakes
Thomson post
Selle Italia Flite Classic Ti saddle

Time to get it on! Just need that headset before I rip apart the newly renovated Slingshot and end up bikeless for the weekend.

Sunflower CX

Another balmy, un-cyclocross weather day with temps in the mid-70's for gods-sake!! Enough of that already. Where are the slippery, wet, wintery conditions that exemplify the spirit of 'cross? Apparently not here in the midwest. Sunday's race was out in Lawrence, KS at the nearby Clinton Lake. Saturday I spent much of the morning rebuilding the Slingshot with my SRAM Rival drivetrain that I'd been holding onto to mount up on the never-arriving Ridley. I said F it and built it up cuz as soon as I do that, the Ridley will arrive. Got a quick ride on it Saturday afternoon and was just hoping the cable didn't stretch too much during the race. It was a fun day as the family was coming with and we were picking up the bro-in-law from school at KU.

Get out the race, register, and go for a quick warm-up ride. Line up in the front row again (been lucky with that all year). Ready GO! I can't get my left foot in the pedal but keep hammering it down the pavement to the over 90 degree left hand turn. Finally I get clipped in and make the turn in about 12-15th spot. The leader goes down hard right at the barriers and the field splits around him like a traffic circle. Over the triple barriers and around the long sweeping corner. We get to a straight away that is a mix of gravel and dirt and its pedal to the metal! I move up to 2nd place and sit on the leaders wheel. That was way too easy, I just went by everybody and settled in nice and easy. I continue to sit on this wheel for the entire first lap where I should have attacked as I was feeling it and everybody else seemed to be holding back. Back to the start/finish at the end of the first lap and I do attack and leave the field by at least 150m, through the barriers and on with it, solo. I'm riding both of the sand pits with not much issue and generally feeling great. Then the "Kid" catches up with me and we ride the next lap together until I make my first mistake. Double barrier section through it and back on, Nope. The bike was bouncing in a rough patch as tried the remount and got the back of the seat right in the sack. OH! Try again, success, but no chain. I can't push the chain back on with the lever, so have to get off the bike and put it on by hand. Now the kid is up on my by 30 seconds. Off to the races and start to reel him in by about 5 seconds per lap but just can't pull him back. Then Problem #2, chain drops to small ring and I can't push it back up to the big ring. Cables have stretched or loosened enough that there's not enough tension to push the chain over the big ring. OK, so running in the high end of the small ring and still going fast enough. The separation between me and the chase is enough I don't have push it too much but I want to catch this kid. Last 2 laps and I'm flying through all the sections, whoops a little bobble in loose corner, and it was then I decided 2nd place was good enough. The weekend before I pushed too much and made bad mistakes and crashed which cost several places. So I conceded the win and was happy with 2nd. Still could of, would of, should of, but it is what it is. If it weren't for mechanicals and mistakes everybody would win every weekend.

Riverside Racing

This weekend the Riverside Cyclocross festival featured races on both days with a reversal of the course on day 2. The venue is very close to home and sat right on the Missouri river next to one of the riverboat casinos in a sweet little park. The course would test the handling skills of the best riders. Beautiful sunny weather around 60 degrees both days, can't beat it.

Day 1 - Good start, sitting in 3rd, but just can't bridge up to my teammate in 1st. Head through Harter's Horseshoe, a downhill rutty section toward the river where it turns to sandy dirt in a horseshoe shape and back up. The Up part was dug out to make back 2 back ditches that were "rideable" but sketchy. #2 goes over his bars in front of me and I run it, sittin pretty. Next big feature is real off-road, a log across the trail that is easily one foot tall, maybe 14 inches with a steep hill right behind it. Bunny hop the log and ride the hill. 20 feet further, another smaller log with a downhill on the other side, bunny hop and into the rolling downhill double track, its wicked FAST. Out to the twisty grass and turn it up. Onto the sandpit/volleyball course and I decide to ride... the deep carbons cut through it like butter and actually gain speed coming out... Kick Ass, I knew those things were worth it! Barrier section guy comes flying by me bunnyhopping the boards!! Not the bump and jump type, full-on BMX both wheels off clearing 'em by several inches and Supafast! I catch him on the straight sections and get by him. He does it again on the next lap, AHHHH! Next thing he blows a corner and goes through the tape, ah I got him now. Well he continues down the side of the course and cuts the tape back in. Now I'm gonna protest if he beats me. Well it didn't come to that as on the next to final lap, in the wooded section I get up and over the big log and hill then got bucked on the 2nd log and endo with front wheel turned into the brush. Pick myself up and ready to go but the tubular is partially off the rim, FUCK!! I scramble to get it put back on the rim, finally get it pushed on and ride it gingerly half a lap back to the pits. Change out the front and of course now several riders have passed me. I try to ride the sand on the bell lap, but the Ksyrium on the front just didn't cut it, bogged down at the end, guy passes me runniing. Relegated to 9th, aint that a bitch. No protest but I tell the guy to go back in where he went out next time. The barriers were low and I'd like to see if he could actually do that on regulation barriers. Photo is Jim going over the bars, but is probably what I looked like too, except I was flying on a downhill slope.


Day 2 - Pissed off ready for vengance. Big field today with 40 starters (Lucas and Songer included due to the payouts). Good start and rolling with the front group of 5 or 6, hear a crash after the first tight corner, at least its behind me.... that's why the start is so important. The tight technical turns aren't feeling that smoothe today. One downhill tight left is getting me everytime where I actually lock it up to make the turn. The uphill swoopy double track section is fast and now there is a step up jump over the log, hit it perfect every time. The front group has formed into 4 guys and I'm leading the chase but they are on my ass, especially in the corners. Lucas pops of the front and Brendan passes me, so still in 4th. Josh passes me and Mike goes on the pave' section... I jam it to not let him pass, looking down as I floor it, I miss the cones and blow through the corner. So frustrated, turning around to get back on course only to see a couple riders get spots on me. Bury it to get back on, Mike crashed and I pass him. Hammer it to the finish and still end up out of the money. 7th place.

So mad about a weekend full of mistakes. Both days mistakes cost me several places and some cash. I had 3rd locked up on Sat and probably 4th on Sunday. What did I learn?? Well.. 1)Pay attention in those technical sections with jumps, be smart and dont try to go too fast 2)Don't land on your front wheel with it turned, Doh 3)Its ok to let somebody pass as long as you stay on their wheel and pass them later 4)Keep your head UP you dumbass! That's why you missed the corner. The bunny hopper is actually a supafast mountain biker who regularly wins Expert and Open categories so that makes me feel a little better. Think I'm gonna start practicing those jumps.

O' Ridley Where Art Thou?

Oh my F'in God!!! It has been over 6 weeks now and still no X-Fire. I knew there would be a wait, but this GD ridiculous. The bike was supposed to ship from Reno on Monday via UPS and it is Friday today, so it better get here. There's probably not much of a chance that I'll be able to race it this weekend. Even if is shows up today, I spend several hours building it up, I won't feel comfortable racing it. I guess Sunday could be a possibility, but that is predicated on the thing arriving today. Each day the UPS may just rolls by without stopping, Oh the disappointment. ARRRRRGGG!!!

Boulevard Cup Race Report

Another gorgeous day for 'cross at a great venue. The course design proved to be challenging and my legs were feeling a bit heavy from Saturday's effort in the 1/2/3 race. Nationals is only about 6 weeks away and racers from around the region came to check it out. The start is an uphill grind that dives off into a slight down hill field, around a pond then back up the hill and across the road into the main area of the race. The course snakes its way around the field through off camber and other tight technical sections. Weather could prove to make this a very difficult course. Long sweeping off-camber turns that were fast on Sunday could turn to slippery sliding turns where you just try to keep the rubber side down. At the end of each lap riders face an uphill dismount that will be laden with 40 ft of stairs, a 180 at the top and back down the hill followed by another 180, then back up another set of stairs. After the remount at the top of 2nd set we rode about 50 feet then another TIGHT 180 onto an off-camber section. This area will prove to be decisive. Lastly back onto the road for the uphill grind to the finish.

I had a decent race, but got separated from the front group in the first lap and couldn't get back on, so I held on to my spot and battled with another guy for awhile until he was out of gas. One young buck on the front, actually rode in Paris-Roubaix this year as part of the US Junior National Team, went out in a spectacular explosion. I've raced with him a bunch last year and once I saw him ahead of me, it was pedal to the metal and I made up another spot through the fast downhill corner. Check out the great video that local Keith Walberg shot for Gizmo Productions.... good stuff and a firsthand look at the Nationals course.

Capital Cup Race Report

Race #3 of the season was out in the capital city of Kansas. Topeka is around 75 miles or so from KC, had to budget a little extra time in getting out there on a great fall day. The morning was a cool start in the mid 30's with mid 50's expected at race time, purrrrfect. I finally broke out the Cane Creek carbons with the Dugast Rhinos on the long flowy course. Front row start and ready to rock it... break my chain in the first 500 meters. So I dug into the 'cross survival kit I take to all races and fish out a replacement chain.

Sign up for the 1/2/3 race, feeling a bit nervous as I'm lining up with Steve Tilford and some of the other fast locals. I take a 2nd row start and ease out of the gate. It didn't seem like a fast start but quickly the pace picked up and the field strung out until I was dangling off the back. The rest of the race was pretty much a solo effort aside from trying to chase down the 2 guys in front of me. Its all good experience and if I had to do it all over again I would have been more aggressive at the start and tried to hang in. Finished 13 of 16, not last and I didn't get lapped by Tilly.

Boulevard Cup Pre-Registration Tonight

Get down to the Boulevard Brewery Tasting room tonight from5-8pm to prereg for the race on Sunday. The race will be held on the same course as December's National Championship of Cyclocross. This is a great opportunity to get your cross on and feel out the course we've all been waiting for. While at the brewery, sample up some of the great offerings they've been cooking up over at Boulevard.

Nationals Course Preview = Boulevard Cup

Sunday's Boulevard Cup will be a big race and riders are expected to descend on KC from all over the country. They want to feel first hand how bad its going to hurt come mid-December on the Nationals course. The word on the street is it will hurt bad. It always hurts, it just depends where and how much. I've raced in this park several times, but Bill has changed it up some and I'm looking forward to getting a true preview on the Nationals course. There are double sets of stairs (railroad ties) added back to back stylie, a large sandpit, and of course enough road to help make up some time, I'll need it. This is a great opportunity to a sneak peak and actually race on the course early. Not that it will give me a big advantage over the likes of Andy Jacques-Maynes, but I can use all the help I can get. Saturday is the 2nd race of the DeStad Cyclocross van Kansas series which will be in Topeka, then back to KC for the Bully cup on Sunday. I'll take some pics and post a good race report on the course after I've felt its wrath.

Boss Cross #1

The weather on Sunday was supposed to be in the low 70's and sunny, so I wasn't too excited about the persistent warmth. On the way up to the race the sky clouded up and wind was gusting in the 20's to 30's. A park in Platte City was the race venue for this revival of the Boss Cross series. The new venue was rumored to be hilly, but upon arrival that rumor looked to be very true. The pre-ride on the course was eye opening, this was going to be hard... 3-4 rough rutty sections that warranted 3 inch suspension and 2.2 tires, hills that were waiting to suck every ounce of snap from my legs, turns littered with gravel, and of course that wind was starting to howl out of the west. There were a lot of technical turns too which looked fun but somebody was going down. As much as I wanted to run the Dugasts, I opted out seeing all those rough ruts and gnarly rocky sections. Michie Mud clinchers with 32 lbs front and 35 rear will be my weapon of choice today. In the Masters race that I missed most of, Jeff's Challenge Grifo blew out the sidewall like so many others that I've read about. I'm staying away from those clinchers, might try a tubie.

Cat 4 Race
Matt-Cat, Brent, Scott, and one of my team-mates Brian were in this race with nearly 50 starters. Ready Go! and field flies up the paved start to the holeshot and into the worst rutty section of the course. People are bouncing all over and at the first turn, bump, bump, boom. Brian gets tangled up with Scott, goes over the bars, and hits the dirt. His bars were completely turned down, shifters full of mud and he limped back to the parking lot. As we were digging for an allen to fix the bars and scraping out the dirt, POW! I turn to look and a few turns later, Matt has blown a tire. Apparently, someone's tire got into his and rubbed for several seconds before exploding. The Hutchinson Piranha had blown out the sidewall across a 5 inch section. No spare wheel, but a generous onlooker offered one up at the pit and Matt was back in the race.

Matt Cat after the holeshot and ruts

By this time, Matt was getting lapped by the leaders, but got in the chase group and started picking off the other lapped riders and ended up in 22nd. Brent on the other hand, in his own massochistic way, opted for the single front 42 chainring and a 25 on the rear. Nothing too eventful for the 13th place finisher, except the continuous frying and burning of his legs as he pushed that gear up those hills. He's going back to the double, not a bad choice.

Brent in the Pain Cave

Scott leading the chase

Cat3/4 Race
The warmup was pretty weak, but still got 20 minutes on the trainer with a few laps on the course. Several accelerations up the monster hill reaffirmed the pain that was about to ensue. Lined up in the front row this time, early bird gets the good start. The chief ref gave her usual spiel and then a very unsuspecting Ready GO!! WTF I said as I immediately punched it and sped toward the holeshot in about 8th place. I bomb it through the rough section and make up several places, around the first corner easily and up the first steep hill, hit the short uphill road section and grab a wheel. There's a lot of jockeying back and forth on the first part of the first lap. We head up the 2nd short upclimb, and people start spinning out and dismounting. I manage to stay on the bike and pedal through them amidst the traffic at a near standstill.

Brendan and I jockeying up the big hill

Through the rocky off-camber section where the line changed every lap cuz all the big rocks kept moving around. By the 2nd lap, we've pretty much got the top 10 out front. I'm sitting on Brendan's wheel and we go through a downhill turn to an off-camber section and he goes down in front of me, I take the section high and go past him into 3rd. Gun it up the next hill by the pits and onto the long daddy hill and through the backside of the course. There was one barrier section with triples and as I approach it, I'm stuck in my left pedal, finally get out at the last second and bounce my bike off the first barrier and manage to get through the boards and back into my pedals, wooo. Brendan and I battle back and forth for a lap or two and I notice that he's slowing a bit on the hills, so next time he goes around me I just sit on his wheel for the next full lap and let him pull me into the wind and up those hills. When we go up the hill by the start/finish he dismounts and starts to run, time to make my move...I gun it and blast past him up the road and don't let up for at least half a lap. On the long uphill, directly into the wind, I also bury myself to get enough separation that I can maintain. Another couple laps and I've managed to keep them all back and nobody is close enough to challenge for my spot. First and second were far enough ahead I knew I couldn't close the gap on them without taking significant risks, so I took the bell lap at a reasonable pace and held onto 3rd. All's good on the podium. Team X grabs 1st, 2nd, and 4th... gotta keep an eye out for those guys. Pallito is looking good and the young Chris is screamin' fast. A big thanks to Jeremy Haynes for designing this challenging course and putting on a stellar event, can't wait for December in Parkville for Boss Cross #2.

Jeff Chasing downPlumer in the Masters

Green Monster

Wow, check this Belgie flyover planted in the bluegrass of Kentucky. The green monster is going to challenge the legs and skills of all riders this coming weekend at the first stop of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross in Louisville. It has the run up on one side and a ride down on the other. I'd be fine on the run up, but getting in the pedals for the steep downhill on the other side immediately would be sketchy at best. I can easily see many riders rolling down on their saddle only and getting bucked at the bottom (yee-haw!). At the beginning of the season I had planned to make this race, but it's too much travel for the fam right now. This course is going to be sick on the remnants of an old golf course, it will be true Belgie style with this new flyover. Rain is in the forecast for the first part of the week in KY, so it could be a weekend of mudfilled mayhem.

Season Opener ... Chris 'Cross Intl

Finally the Cyclocross racing has begun. It poured rain yesterday with a high in the 60s', and the thought of cold weather and mud filled my dreams last night. But as the day wore on, it became a balmy 78 degrees with sunny skies. Sweet, I only have a long sleeve skinsuit as the rest of my kit hasn't arrived, nor my bike (another topic). On with the race report.

kB pulling the train

Rolled up to the start and got a decent position in the 2nd row, but as I looked around it became apparent that there were a couple local legends that were going to lay it down. That just meant the start was even more important. Ready, GO!!! Fast start down the pavement, sitting about 10th into the hole-shot. I quickly made up ground on the first bumpy section and moved up about 5 spots. Through the quad barriers that were 2ft high, the winding whoops section, treacherous creek crossing with rocks and log(photo of Matt-Cat), and back out onto the road.
There was lots of gravel and rocks so I opted to not use the Dugasts today and went with the Ksyrium/Mud combo(good choice). After we got through the first lap, things spread out some and it was me, Ridley teammate Jeremy, and young Team X'er sitting in 5,6, &7. It really stayed that way for the next several laps until some guy came blowing through us, I tried to stay on his wheel but you know how that goes. Down to the bell lap and Team X kid moved in between us and I couldn't shake him with multiple accelerations. He sat on my wheel until the last turn onto the pavement and passed me, then my teammate rolls by. Lost 2 spots in the last 50 meters, boo. All in all the day was good, with no major mistakes, and I'm happy with my placing. Could have had a better start, and should have communicated more with my teammate about some alternating attacks to drop that kid. Shouldn't have pulled the whole race either. Off to Denver in the morning and a rest week, woo hoo, then back to racing next weekend, can't wait. Just want my freakin' X-Fire delivered, SOON!

Poetry in Motion

How beautiful is this clip? This photo is courtesy of David Chui and shows the elegant display of bunny hopping barriers by the master himself, Sinsei JPows. One of these days I'll man-up and give it go.... on the porta-barriers cuz I'm a wussy and probably end up on my face. This is not something you can try in a race unless you have it down perfect EVERY time. Jeremy is also rolling the new SRAM RED on a Ridley X-Fire (it better get here soon!) Straight up Badass.

Fave Riding Partner

Today was a rest day, so Ella and I cruised it up for a good hour or so. She chatted away in the back with her dolls while I played sled dog up front. Mush Mush daddy! Pulling the chariot around isn't easy, but definitely enjoyable with her.

Do They Grow on Trees?

Since there aren't any races in the metro for another couple weeks, we must improvise. Today a few of us gathered at Loose park for the circuit. Set up a couple barrier sections and went for it. The wind was jammin' (30-40mph gusts) and the 80 degree day made it exceptionally tough in the tall grass. Mitch and Brent are captured here approaching the barriers before wind tunnel hill.

Brent's De Rosa was hangin' out in the tree, just ripe for the pickin'.

Another One Flies the Coop

One of my recent acquisitions just flew the coop this week. This 2007 Trek XO2 was around for a couple months, but had to make room in the barn for the real deal. The Ridley X-Fire will be here soon and although its hard to have too many cross bikes, the wife has a different opinion. The wait seems endless.
OUT




IN

Defecting to Ridley Factory Team

Well I'm making a change in teams for cyclocross this fall and will be with the Ridley Factory Team. It is very much for the better and I'll be on one of sickest rides out there... the all carbon X-Fire. Now its just the impatient waiting for the boxes to arrive. With most of the cross world out in Vegas at Interbike this week, it may be a longer wait than normal. The sizing is a little different on the Ridleys so I'll have to post after I've got my frame built up and out for a test ride.

Cross Season is here

Well today the rain finally fell and the temps dropped into the 60's. Oh how I've been longing for this weather, cloudy and cool. This morning I was able to get out in the pouring rain for a quick 25 minute run and that was nice with the little one. Although she stayed dry in the Chariot, I endured the downpour. I just sold my 2007 Trek XO2 so thought I'd take her out for one last spin on the brewpub road ride tonight. Will be exchanging it for some duckets tomorrow so wanted to keep it somewhat clean ready for delivery. I got lots of comments tonight like "It looks like you're ready for cross" or "Do you race cyclocross?", duh you fools. Cyclocross is eminating from my very soul each and every day, so my response was always a pleasant "Yes" with a shit-eating grin on my face. The first real race isn't for a couple weeks so all I can do is prepare and prepare and prepare. Got in an easy 30 miles and looking forward to the final cross clinic tommorow night.

Bully Cup Preview

Yesterday the Boulevard Cup preview was out at Wyandotte County park where the Cyclocross Nationals will be this year. It was a hot and sunny day pushing 90 degrees, certainly not cross weather, but any day is a good day for cross. Rolling up, it didn't appear there were that many people, but they came out of the woodwork with probably 40+ locals out to jockey it up. We did an easy lap together then hit up a real start and bombed it. The pace was pretty high in the front and I was dying of thirst in the heat. The course was mainly in rolling grass with a couple of short paved sections, one barrier, and the railroad tie runup (look for that one at nats). We did a 45 minute session that left most of us red-faced and needing something cold to drink. Luckily there were some cold ones on hand for recovery. It was a great time to blow out the cobwebs and turn it up a notch. That level of intestity can't be replicated until you get a bunch of competitive guys together and say GO! Can't wait for the next one.

Du-Du- Dugast

Well the Rhinos are finally mounted up and it took a full week. This is my virgin glue job as I've never had tubbies before and I'm hoping for the best. I did a quick and easy spin around the park the other day and they felt good. I had too much air in them but was a little nervous about running them with very low pressure for the first time out. I put them on the spare Slingshot DD-X that I'll be using as a training/pit bike this year.

They look sick and can't wait to put them through the paces, although I have read a few posts about people rolling them (yikes!) Lets just hope I have enough glue in all the right places. I may peel those stickers off the wheels too, they look a little much and all black is always BA.

Tour of Missouri

Well the Tour of Missouri ended almost a week ago but I'm still buzzing from the great race that took place locally. Living so close to the first stage I was able to get up close and personal with many of the riders. We went to the gala and team presentation on the eve of the first stage. It was a little overrated but nonetheless a humbling experience to see some of the world's best cyclists in one setting. They are all semi-dwarfish, I guess logging and insane amount miles does that to a person. Some of my favorite moments were meeting Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers, being the cross supastars they are. The day went a little like this... hang out around the start, watch the start and then jam it up to the feedzone to just catch the break going by with Tim Johnson leading them. Head back down to Meyer fountain to watch the circuits, again Tim Johnson pulling like mad. Finally down to the finish were TJ gets gobbled up and Ivan Dominguez hammers the sprint for the win, on the hoods no less. What a day!! Check out the pic... chillin' with J-Pow before the start.

Long Time No Talk

Well it seems that a million years have passed since I last posted here. MTB racing has more or less ended and the focus is solely on cross now. We did a sick 12 hour 3 man team here in the heartland called Rapture in Misery about a month back now. Smoothe B, LT, and myself placed 4th in the Open SupaFast category and had a jolly old time in the humid heat. Those two just got back from Chequamegon last week and put in a respectable 2:45ish time. Not close to the muletia but still they had a good time. So much to write about in the cross world so will just start adding more posts and start mind dumping... beware

The Boggy Monster of Landahl

The swamp of Landahl had its way with a few of us this past weekend. Although I was able to scrap out some additional training miles at the end of the week, it did NOT pay off. New mud tires were mounted tubeless replacing a perfectly sick set of Maxxis CrossMarks, but the mud conditions warranted it. Sunday turned out to be a great day sunny and warm, but the prior rain had turned the trails on the climbs into a soupy peanut butter that clung every inch of you and the bike. Little did I know that I'd never make it to the start. On a warmup ride, I rode out the start and up the initial climb with not much issue other than the slippery mud and wondering what it was going to be like with 20 of my "friends" elbowed up trying to get a few seconds on each other in this mess. Well on the way back down to the start I encountered a few guys doing the same, but in one instance I had to veer off the trail into some rocks and think I got tangled up with a stick. Once I got back down to my spot in the lot, I noticed that there was something wrong with my chain as it was all sideways and clicking. The derailleur was all twisted up and the hanger was cracked/broken. Of course nobody has a spare as I ran around frantically with less than 10 min to start time. Even had I found one, the derailleur itself was broken too so either single speed or no-go.

It set in, I wasn't going start. Should I be pissed or just roll with it? I was on my game, the last month was spent training for this race and I was sooo ready. Maybe it wasn't meant to be.... maybe I would have crashed and got hurt, who knows. Several others got banged up and quit, some mechanicals, and some flat out given' up from being exhausted. If this had happended during the race I would have surely had to walk out thru the muck and that would not have been fun. I quickly decided to just roll with it and hang out and not let it get to me... that took a lot of effort. So watched the race and took a few shots, here is a pic of Pat Cat from our team coming around after the first lap in the Expert group. Check out his water bottle flying right at the camera (double click it for a nice close-up).

Will it Ever Stop?

Wow, the rain here is just relentless. Although it was off and on last week, it's pretty much raining constantly this week. Pretty soon it's goin' to look like this.

Due to all the rain, I haven't been on the bike since Sunday and today is Thursday, crap, with a race on Sunday, F. May try to sneak in a ride today and then again tonight with the boyz.

Good Times in the Saddle

The last week has really been great for getting time in the saddle. Despite the ongoing scattered showers, was able to log some miles and hit several trails. 110 miles on the Road and 11.5 hours Off-Road

Sat 5/19 Clinton Lake 3.5 hours MTB Vinny and da boyz
This was fun but only for me and Brent. Several guys went out with Vinny and one had never even ridden a mountain bike, didn't know that till about 8 miles out on an out and back. He was sufferin', i think those boxers were ridin him high and diggin in! He had no water or food, thought he was going to die. Had to load him up with gel and water. The lake out there was so high the lower trails were under water but if you stayed high they were dry. We turned around and turned it on.... met at the lot nice trails with some up here and there.
Sun 5/20 Road Ride 40 miles
Tues 5/22 BuRP 2 hours MTB
Serengetti way overgrown and itchy!!
Wed 5/23 Landahl 2 hours MTB
Rode loops of Tasty, RimJob,Wills trails were perfecto. Had to be one of my better rides out there. Finally getting the knack for that place. Hadn't been out there very much till this year, but I like it ... a lot. There was some new trail cut that kept you out of that draining, always mucky area. Thanks to Scott, Craig, and the others for keeping that place one of the best around.
Grinders post ride >- BoB was hawkin' the server again whilst we grinded slices and down beverages
Fri 5/25 Landahl 4 hours MTB Vinny and da boyz
Lots of riding OMG. Rode about everything out there and just about got lost on the other side of the creek. Not sure where the hell we were, but was fun.... just had a timeline to work around so was haulin to get back and finally found Scotts Gunbarrel to get back to the lot.
Sat 5/26 Road 45 miles 2.5 hours
It was off and on raining for at least an hour. Lots of spray from the road was great. My skin was all hived up when I got home... probably some toxic crap out on the road eating my flesh, holy shit it itched... killed it with some cort after a shower, but man it lasted.
Sun 5/27 Road 25 miles 1.5 hours recovery ride with LT

Monday I didn't make it out. There were 2 road rides offered up to me but felt I should take a day off as my legs were aching and back was breaking. Not sure what the plan is for tonight, but need to get out and ride.

Where we goin'?

Glad you asked. We are heading through the rest of the summer and fall on a trip to Cyclocross Nationals in Kansas City December 13-16 2007. After that, who knows. The spring/summer will be filled with MTB (mountain bike) riding/racing, road rides (maybe a few races) and you never can tell what else will happen. Will be posting pics and updates throughout the season of rides, friends, and whatever else gets into the frame.

So far the spring has been filled with more MTB than in past years as I wanted to focus on that this year. Cyclocross has a similar start format and the intensity compares to that of an MTB race - heartrate thru the roof, can't get a breath, and eyes bugged out right from GO! To follow in the footsteps of Ryan Trebon, who won both the MTB Cross country and Cyclocross National championships last year, I had to get on the MTB more, but stay on the road too. Road fitness is crucial for endurance and MTB strength gives you the gas and handling. Trebon was the first to win both titles in the same year since Steve Tilford in 1983, the first year of NORBA nationals. Not that i can perform like the Trebon or Tilly, but it can't hurt and the MTB is way fun. So the focus during this year's early season is MTB racing and road training... of course having fun too! Lets Roll.

The Wheels R Turnin'