End of season

It's that time of year when I have absolutely ZERO motivation to train anymore. I was going to buy a cyclocross bike and try racing this fall, but can't justify spending that kind of money with the economy in freefall. So, right now my riding pretty much consists of one or two 45-minute rides after work, the occasional ride towing Owen in the trailer and a weekend mtb ride if it's not raining. There's a mtb race in Red Wing on Sunday, but it's at 9:00 am, meaning I need to leave my house around 6:30. It's a fun course, but I'm not sure it's worth getting up at 5:30 on a Sunday. We'll see.

What do you do to stay motivated in the shoulder seasons?

Economy

$700,000,000,000
That's a lot of zeroes. That's $2,317.88 per man, woman and child in America. If that kind of jing is going to be handed out, it should be in the form of a loan, and all 301 million of us should get quarterly interest payments equal to or greater than the rate I have to pay on my unsubsidized student loans.

Expiration Date: Jan. 20, 2009 12 p.m.

First, there was an immediate threat to our nation, and if we didn't give Bush all the power he needed to invade Iraq our country would be in grave peril. That turned out well. Now, there's an immediate threat to our nation's economy, and if we don't let Bush give Wall Street a blank check (with no oversight, regulations or auditing) our economy will collapse. Sounds like a great idea. What could possibly go wrong with giving Bush more unchecked power? By the way, if Wall Street got into this mess by being grossly overleveraged, what would you call expanding our nation's already morbidly obese debt by 1 trillion dollars? It's an election year, so you know that taxes won't be raised to pay for it. Instead, we'll keep digging a bigger hole to China (literally) with my kid left holding the shovel. And, in true Bush "You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie" fashion, the CEO's responsible for this gaping craphole still get their golden parachutes. They don't need the parachutes -- their fall will be gently cushioned by the backs millions of American middle-class taxpayers. Maybe W will award them Presidential Medals of Freedom, too. That would be Compassionate Conservatism in action.

I agree something needs to be done, but something doesn't mean putting blind faith in someone who only weeks ago said our economy was fundamentally sound, and that Freddie and Fannie were fine, etc. Is throwing $700 billion onto the fire going to douse the flames, or fuel the fire? I'm sure Sarah Palin has the answer. She has a checking account, so therefore she has economic experience. Maybe she can shoot at the bad corporate debt from a helicopter.

I'm just a public university educated moron who lives on "Main Street", and I approve this message.

Second

It's official -- my consistent mediocrity was good enough (barely) for second in my age group. Let the lucrative endorsement deals commence. Seriously, I'm happy to finally finish on the podium as I've been chasing that goal for the past several years and always just missed it. Also cool that Peace Coffee took the top two spots in Comp 30-34 and 35-39. Big shout outs to Kevin, Matt and Jamison for dominating all year long.

End of Mountain Bike Season

Singletrack Escape was Saturday, marking the end of another MNSCS season. My number one mission was to finish this race -- any mechanicals or a DNF would kill my series standings, so I was more conservative than a McCain-Palin rally in a Texas church full of oil lobbyists. I wanted to ride just fast enough to get the points I needed to hold off Rich and Brandt. Well, I finished 7th. But, Rich won and Brandt came in 4th. D'oh! Not looking good (proving that it's much better to be progressive than conservative).

When I first tallied up the points it looked like Rich ended up second overall by ONE POINT. Then I remembered the bonus points. Ah, the bonus points. I did nine races to Rich's seven. With ten races in the series, you get 5 bonus points for each race beyond the seven that are required. Even though I had mechanicals and DNFed two races, I still get the 5 points for each one. Meaning, by my rusty math, that I ended up second overall by two points. I'll have to wait for the official results to be sure, but if it stands I'll take it. Here's what I got, somebody else check my math:

1 Kevin Supple 950
2 Chris Van Ert 899
3 Rich Omdahl 897
4 Brandt Elson 883
5 Eric LeBow 855

However it all shakes out, it fun racing with y'all for another year. Looking forward to more suffering in 2009.

Down to the Wire

One race to go and I've still got a chance at Top 3 despite two DNFs. The Jail Trail is probably my least favorite trail in the series: flat, tight and twisty. Pretty much a dirt crit/time trial. We'll see how it goes. Looks like Kevin has first locked up in 35-39. Matt has first locked up in 30-35, and Jamison is in a dogfight for 2nd. It would be sweet for Peace Coffee to nab the top two spots in both age groups. If that happens, beers are on me.

Did the R&G ride last night -- 30 miles of high-speed cruise intervals. Didn't have the power I had 2 months ago, but was able to hang just fine. Put the mtb skills to work when the pavement ended and everyone else hit the brakes. Rode the 1/2 mile gravel washboard section with another crafty veteran at full-speed while the rest of the pack tiptoed through. C'mon guys, it's only dirt and rocks...

Vote

It's only a primary, but it's all part of the process. You know, that process you learned about way back in school. Democr-something? Go vote.

Annual fall burnout

Really struggling to find motivation to train right now. I've got one mtb race left and maybe will try some cyclocross this fall, but right now the last thing I want to do is cruise intervals. I did get down to Lebanon Hills for a couple of laps on Saturday. Managed to bend my front brake rotor on a rock, but otherwise had a good ride. The new exit section is fun. The big berms remind me a little of the original trail exit from 10-15 years ago.

Chicago?

75 hits on the blog from Chicago yesterday. Barack, is that you?

Laddie's Loppet (or, what a difference a week makes)

This course used to give me nightmares. Came up on Saturday and prerode with Jamison. Glad I did. I took my time and rerode a few sections to get them dialed in. We ended up clearing everything, which gave me a big boost of confidence for Sunday. Everyone talks about the "Lakeside Drops" (see above), but there are many, many spots on the course that are way more difficult. But, none of those spots is 10 inches from the lake, where if anyone crashes, they go into the drink.

Race day hit with temps in the high 80's and wicked humidity. My plan was to not go out too strong at the start and then try to bring it on the last lap. Well, I should have gone faster, because it got really, really jammed up in the first section of singletrack. I had to get off and run several times due to people in front of me falling (not a complaint, just an observation, I ate it right in front of someone later on). This really broke my rhythm and spiked my heart rate. I made it through all of the drops and sketchy singletrack in one piece and came around to start Lap 2. By now the heat and humidity were really doing a number on me. I grabbed a bottle from Jen and drained most of it before I hit the singletrack. Then, I started getting the chills and feeling like a full-body cramp was coming on. I eased way off the gas and just focused on riding smoothly and getting through the race. I noticed lots of other guys were cooking as well, so I just tried to keep it going and hoped I would recover. It was pretty slow going for a while, and all the punchy climbs were just killing me. But, at about mile 4 I saw Zilla and thought I had a chance to at least keep him in sight (I need to finish higher than him for the Series Overall). Well, I was finally able to catch and pass him, but he's got mad skills on the technical stuff, especially descents, and I knew he'd be tough to shake. He was behind me on the last steep climb up to the big boulder. I didn't have enough power to clear the boulder and went down right in front of him (again, sorry about that Zilla!). I was able to get back on and I gave it everything I had from there on out. I saw the 1k to go sign and popped it in the big ring and just went for it. I didn't look back until I got within sight of the finish. There was nobody behind me, so I rolled across the line, quite happy to just finish.

Ended up 2nd in my group, which was my best MNSCS finish ever. Not sure how that happened considering how close I was to a total bonk. Peace Coffee had a pretty good day. Jamison got second in his group, Clayton smoked me for the first time all year, and Bryan just missed the Top 10 overall in his first Comp race. I think the "dream" is still alive for a top 3 overall spot for me, but I'll have to see how the results shake out and who else is still in it. Big props to everyone at Maplelag Resort for making this the coolest race every year.

"Lakeside Drop" photo from Skinnyski.com

The Derailleur and the Damage Done

The good news is I only damaged one or two spokes. The XTR rear deraillieur is shot, as is the hangar. So, new XTR (not the Shadow, that thing is almost $400) derailleur, some wheel truing and brake adjusting and that should hopefully do it.

Snap (again)

First WORS race. I even got a callup to the starting line as one of the points leaders for MNSCS. Cool. I got a fairly good start, but was having trouble breathing with all of the dust. I entered the first section of singletrack in the top 10-15. First lap was fast. Second lap there was a train of about 10 riders going up the singletrack climb to the rock garden. That's the first time I can recall recovering on a climb. It was so slow that it was hard to ride without falling over. Third lap I had settled in and was getting into a good rhythm. Final lap, I'm feeling good, just passed some people in the last clearing and can see teammate and age-group leader Kevin Supple about 1o yards ahead of me. Pop it in the big ring and fly towards the singletrack. Must have hit the 90 degree turn a little hot, because I hit the deck hard. Dropped my chain, took forever to get it running. Got back on and managed to catch the two guys who passed me. Get through the downhill and to the switchback climb. I shift gears and SNAP, my rear derailleur is broken. Race over, season over (I won't have enough races for series points now). To say I'm bummed is an understatement. I was riding well, feeling surprisingly well. I had a couple of minutes on Rich Omdahl, somehow managed to pass and drop Walters and had the most difficult sections behind me, with nothing but fast flowing singletrack and the finish line ahead of me. Wasn't meant to be I guess.

So, today I get to go to the shop and assess the damage. New XTR rear derailleur for sure, hopefully the XTR wheel isn't toast as well. I've got some serious trail rash and bruising on my hip, knee, and arm. And I'm pretty sure my goal of a podium spot for the series is shot. No Maplelag this weekend, since the repair bill will be $$$. Could have been worse.

(I've decided to delete my rant about a certain rider and let it go.)

White Tail Ridge

"Raced" WTR last night. It's fun to ride but it's definitely not my type of course for racing. It's pretty flat and on the one or two climbs where I could make up some time there's no place to pass. Last night I got stuck behind 2-3 guys on the climb to the rock garden, then got behind someone who didn't clear the rock garden. By the time I got out to the field to pass, the next guy up was already heading into the next section of singletrack. Game over a few minutes into lap 1. Doesn't bode well for Sunday when there will be a ton of racers. That holeshot is going to hurt...

On the road again

Finally able to ride again after being sick for 2 weeks. Got 40 in on Tuesday and another 40 miles last night. Finally found a decent northern route that isn't a narrow no-shoulder road, hillbilly jamboree.

Distance: 40 miles
Average Watts: 200
Average Speed: 20 mph
Calories burned: 1550

No Race

This cold is an ass-kicker. I've been sick for a week with no real signs of improvement. Just mowing the lawn killed me on Saturday so I decided to not even bother thinking about racing at Buck. Went for a 45 minute spin yesterday just to get one ride in for the week and not lose too much fitness. Hope this crap goes away soon.

Cold

Summer colds suck. 85 degrees and sunny outside and you can't go out and play. For two months I've been putting in some serious overtime on this catalog, and I think those 16 hour workdays have finally kicked my ass. No riding this week, hopefully I can race on Sunday. Not sure that's gonna happen.

MNSCS Standings

I know it won't look this way in a few weeks, so I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Powder Monkey

This was a favorite spot for the vultures, I mean spectators. Bottom of the expert course, sick rock garden at the bottom of a pretty nasty drop. I survived it twice, and from the look on my face thoroughly enjoyed it. Dana's photos continue to kick ass.

Bike Survey

Questions sent to me by Janet. Here goes...

If you could have any one — and only one — bike in the world, what would it be?
Easy, a cyclocross rig. Road, dirt, mud, snow. Bring it on.

Do you already have that coveted dream bike? If so, is it everything you hoped it would be? If not, are you working toward getting it? If you’re not working toward getting it, why not?
You never have the dream bike because once you do you want the next one. That being said, my KHS Team XC is pretty fly. And the ladies love my 1972 Schwinn Stingray.

If you had to choose one — and only one — bike route to do every day for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
I'd start at the Slickrock Cafe after breakfast (Hungry Biker + lots of coffee), head down Main St and up towards Slickrock to Porcupine Rim. Rock the PR all the way down to the highway and follow the river back to Moab. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

What kind of sick person would force another person to ride one and only one bike ride to to do for the rest of her / his life?
I'll have to say, Yo Momma.

Do you ride both road and mountain bikes? If both, which do you prefer and why? If only one or the other, why are you so narrowminded.
Both. I prefer road bikes on the road and mountain bikes off road. I'm funny like that. Both have their own unique vibe, and doing both makes you appreciate the other even more. Either way, you're not on the couch or in a car, so it's all good.

Have you ever ridden a recumbent? If so, why? If not, describe the circumstances under which you would ride a recumbent?
No, no, and Hell No. I also do not make eye contact with or acknowledge the existence of anyone riding a R-Word.

Have you ever raced a triathlon? If so, have you also ever tried strangling yourself with dental floss?
I only run when being chased by someone trying to take my lunch money. Although I do look good in my Fishnet Speedo Junior...

Suppose you were forced to either give up ice cream or bicycles for the rest of your life. Which would you give up, and why.
Ice cream, because bikes don't give me brain freeze.

What is a question you think this questionnaire should have asked, but has not? Also, answer it.
If a train leaves Chicago at 9:30am traveling west at 60 mph and another train leaves Seattle at 10:30am traveling east at 50 mph, what is the name of the passenger sitting in the 3rd seat of the dining car on the eastbound train? Answer: Yo Momma.

What do you drink during the post-ride social? Beer or wine?
Water. Endurox R4. Heineken or Fat Tire Pale. Not necessarily in that order.

You’re riding your bike in the wilderness (if you’re a roadie, you’re on a road, but otherwise the surroundings are quite wilderness-like) and you see a bear. The bear sees you. What do you do?
If I'm on the road, I sit in and draft off the bear. If I'm on the mtb I slow down to see if he really does shit in the woods.

Powder Monkey

This race has destroyed my bike the last two years in a row: wheel in 2006, and a snapped rear derailleur last year. So, goal number one was to finish. This course was a beast in the Sport class, and the upgrade to Comp/Expert makes it epic. I can't think of a harder, more technical trail in Minnesota. Rocks everywhere, from babyheads to bus-sized boulders. Tight, twisty, tree-lined singletrack with lots of punchy, technical climbs. Climbs, climbing and more climbing, broken up by more climbing sections. Brutal (but in a good way).

Comp did one full expert lap, plus a half-lap. We started just up from the chalet, climbed to the top and made our way towards the bottom of Spirit Mountain (somehow climbing during the entire descent). Rode everything pretty well considering the expert sections were all new to me. I made the sketchy rock garden downhill at the bottom both laps, disappointing the spectators who were lined up waiting for carnage. Then we climbed back up to the top for what seemed like an hour. Wicked, technical uphill insanity. I made it through all but one section where the rise was so steep I didn't see anyone even attempt to ride it (walking it was a challenge). Just when I could hear traffic and see cars and thought we were at the parking lot we plunged down for more singletrack and more climbing. I was suffering like a dog, but could see some of the group leaders around me, so I figured either they were hurting just as much or I was doing okay.

Made it back to the start/finish for the final half-lap. Was doing fine until I clipped a tree with my handlebar and got launched over the bars and about 10 feet down the side of the hill. Smacked my calf and thigh on the frame, lost about 2 minutes in the process of climbing back up to the trail and got passed for 2 places. Rode with Kevin until the fireroad and then he lost me. Nice recovery, Kevin! I felt good enough to floor it near the parking lot climb but had major chainsuck which took a bit of time to fix. Got it rolling and hit the line for 5th in my group. The crash probably cost me a podium spot (missed 3rd by about 45 seconds), but considering I had to DNF the last two years, I'll take it.