Madelyn and I rode in the St Cloud Single Track Escape on Saturday. The STE is our local mountain bike race put on by the Mid Minnesota cycling club and Revolution cycle and ski.
Madelyn did the kids comp race her first time in this competative class. She was very nervous at the start but finished the lap in 3rd in her class for a podium apearence and a prize.
I did the sport race later and had a decent race but I am way out of shape and it showed as I have finished 3rd, 2nd and 3rd three of the last 4 years with a flat tire and a DNF the other of the four but this year 5th was all I could manage in my class.
No Pork Chop Cyclocross this year, bummer, so I probably won't do any cross races as that race always got me excited for the cross season.
This Wednesday I am heading to California with Charlie, Mark and Lor to ride Levi's King Ridge Gran Fondo. We should get some casual rides in on Thursday and Friday as well as some wine tasting before the Fondo on Saturday then back Sunday morning.
9/25/11
9/20/11
CVV's Cheq downfall?
From Steve Tilford's blog...
Brian said that Jason and VDV were double teaming him and eventually Christian got off the front. He was 15 seconds off the front when he had to turn a sharp turn on Camp 38. He flatted.
I’m not sure what would have happened if Christian kept air in his tire. I asked him what happened and he said that he didn’t feel anything, it was flat. I asked him if he burped it and he kind of looked at me wondering and then said he had a tube. I questioned why he wasn’t riding tubeless and then he said maybe it was tubeless. I told him not knowing whether he was riding tubeless or with tubes disqualifies him from the chance of getting to win Chequamegon on his first try.
If this is true it's kind of sad.
Brian said that Jason and VDV were double teaming him and eventually Christian got off the front. He was 15 seconds off the front when he had to turn a sharp turn on Camp 38. He flatted.
I’m not sure what would have happened if Christian kept air in his tire. I asked him what happened and he said that he didn’t feel anything, it was flat. I asked him if he burped it and he kind of looked at me wondering and then said he had a tube. I questioned why he wasn’t riding tubeless and then he said maybe it was tubeless. I told him not knowing whether he was riding tubeless or with tubes disqualifies him from the chance of getting to win Chequamegon on his first try.
If this is true it's kind of sad.
9/19/11
2011 Cheq 40
Friday noon Tami and I headed to Hayward for Saturday's Chequamegeon 40 mountain bike race. This was my 7th year in a row doing the race and wasn't too excited about it until Friday. I hadn't done a race all year and started to get butterflies on the drive out. My riding this season has been a small fraction of previous years so I didn't have too high of hopes for a good finish, which for me would be around 2 hours and 50 minutes.
We checked into our hotel and drove up to Telemark to get my race packet. I got checked in for the race and then Tami and I checked out the Expo and bought some T Shirts and shorts for the kids. We then went to the Angery Minnow for dinner and back to the room to sleep.
I got up at 4:30 and got my bike to the start line by 5:00 but still only managed to get into row 9. Some poeple really get there early for the prime spots, then back to bed for a couple hours.
The race started fast, too fast for me as I was in the red by the time we hit Rosies field, the real start of the race. I stuggled my way to OO, not quite the 1/2 way mark, way over the time I hoped to and really had a hard time not quitting but Tami was there with full bottles for me and cheering me on.
The next 14 miles were a blur as I tried to get into some kind of groove and keep up a decent pace. As I neared firetower hill I eased up a bit knowing what was ahead and attempting to save enough to ride all the way up. I managed to ride the first two of the three sections but got bottled up by all of the others walking and had to walk the last part. I know if I had a little more room I would have managed the whole thing. That is the hardest section of the course and it usually totally wipes me out. That gave me a little boost especially since my 2X9 drivetrain has no granny gear and I had to really grind up that thing. I felt good at the top and knowing I had about 10 miles to go made up my mind to push hard untill the end.
After reading the race report and looking at the pictures from the race I felt even better knowing Christian Vande Velde had to walk firetower and he didn't have to deal with people all around him walking.
On the last section of the Birkie trail I crested a hill to see a guy bend over his bike puking all over I asked if he was ok and he managed to say yes then he got back to fertilizing the trail and I rode off just as the smell started to hit me. That would not be a good way to finish. I rolled across the line in about 3 hours and 8 minutes, took a quick shower and had a beer with Charlie and Mark then headed back to Hayward and the Angry Minnow for a late lunch then we headed home.
Brian Matter won the race for the 4th time in 2 hours and 59 minutes. A new course record. CVV flatted and didn't finish so technically I beat him.
A great time all around. I was worried being purchase by Lifetime would change the event but it all seemed the same to me.
Cycling news.com report
9/13/11
NCAA Hockey
This past spring I almost got tickets to the NCAA hockey final 4 in St Paul but didn't and have regretted it as it was fun to watch and would have been even more fun to be there. So after purchasing our first set of SCSU hockey tickets today I thought I would check the location of the 2011-2012 tournament...
Seriously Tampa Florida?
9/12/11
Paul Bunyan and Ethnic Fest
I got out of work a little early Friday so the family could head up to Walker for the weekend. They dropped me off in Hackensack and I rode the rest of the way up from there. I had decided to not ride the Paul Bunyan and Heartland trail up to Walker since I brought my cross bike. I tryed some of the gravel roads and worked my way through the woods to Walker.
I headed out saturday morning on my bike with a specific route in mind of about 65 miles of gravel roads to and through the Paul Bunyan State Forest. I was really bummed out when the second gravel road I hit 5 miles into my ride was a dead end and didn't connect to the rest of my route like the maps showed. I had to back-track about 2 miles then take the pavement around anothe 2 miles until I was back on gravel and in the forest.
From then on it was great. The roads ranged from rock hard packed gravel 30 feet wide to trails I wished I had my mountain bike on. No long climbs but alot of short steep rollers. On one hill my Garmin measured the incline at 17%, not easy on loose dry gravel and over inflated cross tires.
I stopped after 2 hours to take some pictures with my phone but they didn't turn out very well.
I ended up skipping a loop in the forest and cutting the end short to get back in time for lunch plans but the still had 60 miles with 6 miles paved. I saw cars only the first 10 miles, the 1.25 miles along Hwy 64 and one about 1/2 way. I almost got lonely.
I am thinking about Mid October going back up when the leaves are changing and doing the ride again if I can find time, I think I have something planned every weekend into November.
We hit up the Ethnic Fest in Walker for some food, music and crafts. I took the kids to the beach for probably the last time of the year, had a fantastic dinner at Boulders then went out fishing (not catching)until dark.
Yesterday I took the kids out fishing (again not catching anything) then went to church and brunch with my parents before riding to Pine river where I met up with Tami and the kids and headed home. Homemade Pizzas, wine and Mario cart before bed.
No ride tonight as my legs are tired. I do need to finish getting my sprinklers going as my lawn completely turned brown over the weekend. I turned them on for the first time this year last night and they are spraying all over.
I headed out saturday morning on my bike with a specific route in mind of about 65 miles of gravel roads to and through the Paul Bunyan State Forest. I was really bummed out when the second gravel road I hit 5 miles into my ride was a dead end and didn't connect to the rest of my route like the maps showed. I had to back-track about 2 miles then take the pavement around anothe 2 miles until I was back on gravel and in the forest.
From then on it was great. The roads ranged from rock hard packed gravel 30 feet wide to trails I wished I had my mountain bike on. No long climbs but alot of short steep rollers. On one hill my Garmin measured the incline at 17%, not easy on loose dry gravel and over inflated cross tires.
I stopped after 2 hours to take some pictures with my phone but they didn't turn out very well.
I am thinking about Mid October going back up when the leaves are changing and doing the ride again if I can find time, I think I have something planned every weekend into November.
We hit up the Ethnic Fest in Walker for some food, music and crafts. I took the kids to the beach for probably the last time of the year, had a fantastic dinner at Boulders then went out fishing (not catching)until dark.
Yesterday I took the kids out fishing (again not catching anything) then went to church and brunch with my parents before riding to Pine river where I met up with Tami and the kids and headed home. Homemade Pizzas, wine and Mario cart before bed.
No ride tonight as my legs are tired. I do need to finish getting my sprinklers going as my lawn completely turned brown over the weekend. I turned them on for the first time this year last night and they are spraying all over.
9/6/11
9/5/11
Labor Day
Today is Madelyn's 11 th birthday, how time flies.
Saturday Tami and I took both girls down to the Carrie Underwood concert to celebrate. The venue wasn't that great but she is amazing.
Sunday Tami, the girls and I cooked. I roasted a turkey, made Squash, corn on the cobb and Mashed potatoes and Gravy. The Girls made Apple Strudle and Apple crisp. We had Nelsons and Ferrells over and of coarse they brought Potato soup, Hot Wings and Brownies. After that and 4 bottles of wine the kids talked us into playing kick the can.
Today was a re-grouping day, doing dishes from the night before and getting ready for school and work tomorrow. The girls and I did get in a good session of Mario Cart (Madelyn's birthday present) before bed.
Saturday Tami and I took both girls down to the Carrie Underwood concert to celebrate. The venue wasn't that great but she is amazing.
Sunday Tami, the girls and I cooked. I roasted a turkey, made Squash, corn on the cobb and Mashed potatoes and Gravy. The Girls made Apple Strudle and Apple crisp. We had Nelsons and Ferrells over and of coarse they brought Potato soup, Hot Wings and Brownies. After that and 4 bottles of wine the kids talked us into playing kick the can.
Today was a re-grouping day, doing dishes from the night before and getting ready for school and work tomorrow. The girls and I did get in a good session of Mario Cart (Madelyn's birthday present) before bed.
9/3/11
I'm Not Fond of the Fondo
So I signed up to go to Santa Rosa with Mark, Charlie and Mark's freind Lor. When I signed up the Gran (100 mile) route was full so I entered the Medio (65 mile) route. 65 miles is enough for me plus I would get to try to put the hurt on Patrick Dempsy (McDreamy) who I hear is not a great cyclist. I was content.
I'm not sure what changed my mind but I decided to get a swap and upgrade to the Gran route. They have a Facebook page to post on to connect with others trying to Swap routes or just get entries to the ride. I have never been on Facebook before and after this hope never to again. I can't stand it, it makes no sense and is very frustrating. After three days of getting pissed off trying to get my swap I finally found someone looking to down grade from the Gran to the Medio.
Now I need to find a way to be able to ride 100 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing in 4 weeks, wish me luck.
I'm not sure what changed my mind but I decided to get a swap and upgrade to the Gran route. They have a Facebook page to post on to connect with others trying to Swap routes or just get entries to the ride. I have never been on Facebook before and after this hope never to again. I can't stand it, it makes no sense and is very frustrating. After three days of getting pissed off trying to get my swap I finally found someone looking to down grade from the Gran to the Medio.
Now I need to find a way to be able to ride 100 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing in 4 weeks, wish me luck.
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