Arkansassy...

Weekend plans: Drive down to the middle-of-nowhere Arkansas, Stay in a cabin built in the 30's, ride mountain bikes on sweet single track, do some rock climbing on some great sandstone, eat some good food and drink some fine malt beverages.

I guess there was an ice storm down south recently and there were trees down or broken in half, everywhere you looked. Most of the trails were closed due to storm damage, and it just happened to snow on us while we were down. This made the rock too wet to climb and the trails inaccessible. Not to worry! We had plenty of food and thanks to Timbo we got the hook-up on some local beer from the Boulevard Brewery, so we were set! The trip in short was the two of us driving down, eating food, drinking beer, hiking around in the woods and planning Timbos cabin design in Leadville, Colorado. A nice and restful weekend. Now I have to make-up for the two days of feasting and no physical activity somehow to keep up on my training!

Yummy potatoes & cheese surprise!

Local hole-in-the-wall place that served-up some tasty apple pie a-la-mode! Fern Canyon Climbing Area One of the many views from the cabin.

Thick fog on the drive down.

Commutication...

Spun into work today. Will be spinning home as well. I'm loving the new ride...

EDIT: Just had to run some drawings from my office to Waldo... all said and done I spun 42 miles just going to work and back today.

Lost Valley Luau...

After a crazy "vacation week", it was back in the saddle for the Midwest Fat Tire Championship Series first point race of the season, the Lost Valley Luau. Travis, Cameron and I made the haul out to St. Louis on Sunday a.m. for the race. We were all psyched and had a good time during the 3 hour car ride, telling fishing stories, eating treats made by our awesome wives and hoping the rain hitting the windshield was just an illusion. We arrived, registered and readied ourselves for the event. The three of us and Cliff, another KC Local, headed out for a pre-view of the course. It appeared that we were in for a mix of new single-track, dirt / gravel double-track and existing single-track. Basically about a ten mile loop of mixed trail with a 3 mile start to get there. For me, riding the Single speed on double-track is always a nightmare, as I am just spun-out the entire time, but you just gotta push it or you're left in the dust.

Here is Cliff getting it done during the race.

Though I had a great time racing with friends, I have to say this was my first real disappointment for racing this year. Not so much my effort; I gave it a good go. I was just plain frustrated with the organization of the event. First off, they had not posted in any clear manor what the heck the event would consist of, other than a mtn bike race. Second, I asked at registration what the classes were, and they spoke nothing of a single speed class, so I entered with the mass geared group. At the start line I hear "single speeds to the line" and my first frustration of the event began. I rushed to the line and had them change my entry to single speed. Next they seem to have missed my first lap time and then proceeded to tell me I was done after my second lap, when in reality I had made the time cut and could have gone out for a third. This was an utter let down, as this threw me totally out of the running for higher final position. Just an overall bummer for me on paper and mentally. I finished in 8th position.

On a great note, our man Travis got 5th in the Sport class and this was his first mountain bike race ever. Way to go buddy!!!

Cameron took home the gold with a 1st place win in the Expert class, rolling across the line with a solid lead. Surprised? Me neither... Way to go bro!

Back home in KC it's the usual work week grind. I'll be visiting the orthopedic doc to have my knee looked at as well, I am having some killer pain and want to make sure that i can safely race the remainder of the season.

Training Ride Numero Uno...

Since the 6 hour mountain bike race was cancelled for today, a group of us decided to put on some mileage and go for a road ride, and this was my first. I am a mountain biker, and this ride was purely for training, at least that is what I am telling myself. It was nice to go fast, but I have to say that I enjoy being in the woods and riding on dirt a bit more. I'm not going to drag this one out. We had a long-ass ride and I got totally worked, which was exactly what I was hoping for. Sixty miles of riding on the road will make your ass sore, your knees scream and your mouth crave a hand full of beers. At least it did for me...

Eye Candy...

Travis takes good care of his friends. I just picked-up my Cross Check from the shop tonight. He finished the build for me since I have no knowledge of road type brake/shifter levers and all that fancy stuff. I guess what I am trying to say is that he did a great job, I could not have done it myself and THANKS!!!

The build is as follows for all of you gear heads;

-Surly Cross Check Frame & Fork (54 cm)

-Stans rims w/Chris King Hubs & Hutchinson Bulldog tubeless tires

-Paul Brakes (neo-retro front, touring/canti rear)

-Paul Crosss Top levers

-Salsa Bell Lap Bar

-Salsa Skewers

-Thomson Post & Stem

-Salsa Clamp

-WTB Saddle

-Crank Bros Pedals

-Chris King Headset

-Full Dura Ace (shifters, crankset, BB, F&R derailers)

Rain Check...

A work in progress... my Surly Cross Check- Cyclocross/commuter/training when the weather sucks and the trails are too muddy to ride, ride. I have been freaking-out for the past three weeks trying to get this frame & fork. Now that I have them, I can't wait to put on some miles! I'll be taking her into the LBS for the finishing touches with hopes of a weekend ride. Special thanks to a few of the local "woodchuck's" for hooking me up big-time to get this bike rolling!

Bone Bender MTB Race Postponed...

The official word is out, the Bone Bender MTB Race for this upcoming weekend has been postponed. A bummer for sure but looking at the good side, this gives me more time to train! The new race date is April 18th, I will be there!

Devil's Revenge Mountain Bike Race...

Everything lately has been weather dependant, and those registered for the Devils Revenge Duathlon and Mountain Bike Race came out in the clear...barely. Thunderstorms were to arrive race day but the course was in el-perfecto condition. I raced the Single Speed event and had a blast. Twenty-six riders raced at the same time, and going into the first lap I was feeling strong. About a mile in I had just passed two riders when I lost my chain. I pulled to the side and watched as one after another, riders just passed me by; every rider. My chain was totally wedged between my freewheel and my frame. It took me probably five minutes to get that sucker yanked free. By then I was in last place. I was psyched to get-r-done as they say and I took off with the mindset that I could make up the time. I was passing people constantly. Passing just makes you feel stronger. If I would come up on another single speed rider, it was my goal to pass them and get out of there fast. About three miles from the finish I was in third position and feeling good when all of a sudden I wrecked hard on a rocky uphill climb that most riders were walking. I had sent this hill on my previous lap so I was going for it. I hit a rock and just stopped, fell and tumbled down hill, about 15 feet off the trail. Unhurt, I tried to get back and riding as three Single Speed riders passed, bumping me into sixth position. With only a mile or two to go, I fought hard to regain fifth position and was going head to head all the way to the finish. This was a great first race of the season for me and definitely got my mind in the game. I feel pretty good having passed 14 riders after loosing my chain. I guess there is always next time...and that will be next weekend at the Bone Bender 3/6!!!

The man himself, Cameron Chambers brought home the win in the Duathlon. Congrats Cameron!!!

Here is a great shot of my pal Mason mid-crash during the race. Mason did a fine job in his first Single Speed race of the season!

The Y Chromosome...

Another new mini-trail feature...the "Y Chromosome". twisted skinny one way to a choice of a wheelie-drop or skinny roll-off the other. You can also ride it backwards, it's all good...

I Heart Visitors...

Andre stopped by today for a quick preview lap of the mini-trail (well, maybe a few laps). I can't believe how easily he can just cruise over the skinnies. No fear...

The snow has come and gone and the trail is in perfect condition... its 73 degrees outside! Come and ride the trail!

Bovine is Back...

Just got my Cow Town Cycling Team Kit yesterday....I am totally psyched!!! Mooooove on over!!!

Powder Hound...

After living in the Midwest forthe vast majority of my life, I'm still bewildered with the weather patterns, or lack there of. Yesterday's SMP ride was fun with the snow being about 3-4" deep, so with that in mind, Travis and I headed to Smithville to join a 'group' for the pre-ride of the Bonbender Race Course. I guess the 8 degree temps and 6" of snow that the north part of the metro area received just plain scared everyone off. Turns out it was just Travis, Chris and me that got to dabble in the drifts, and what a hellish-fun time it was!

Believe it or not, this photo (above) is the really nice stone creek crossing on the lakeside speedway that was built this past fall by the locals. TONS of snow!

I stole this photo from Chris (thanks Chris!). Here is Travis and me towards the end of our ride. We got in about 1 1/2 hours of snow-slogging-good-times.