The Mountains...

The Mountains are calling to me...always.

One of my all time favorite steeds - The Kona Unit - on one of my favorite trails near Aspen, Colorado.

The Black Pearl...

Promoting cycling events and building trail systems can take a toll on a fella, a toll on family time and a toll on ones riding time. I've been at it hard for the last two months doing everything I can to keep people psyched with a new local cycling venue and weekly race events. Today however, I got to ride MY bike...

Fall is here. Swope Trails.

It was still a tight squeeze to get in some time with all of the things I have on my plate, but rallied I did - met The Manimal and The Silent Killer out at Swope for a few laps of what turned out to be perfect trail conditions. I guess they weren't perfect; there were leaf covered turns and a section of new trail so dusty that visibility was down to twenty-feet. But overall, the trail conditions and the trail itself are just plain sick. The lines are well thought out, the bench cut sections on steep, rock-strewn terrain is always a technical fiesta. The flow is the best you'll find. I just love to ride there, it'd been way too long.

My fellow cohorts were pushing the envelope and I did my best to keep up and still enjoy the scenery. I was thinking as I watched The Silent Killers unyielding ability to hang on the wheel in front of him, and how my style varies as I stay back just enough to enjoy the solitude of the woods. Maybe this spacing-off at the scenery is in part what keeps me from the desire to train really hard and become a super bad-ass. I just try to keep it on the fun level. Don't get me wrong; going fast IS fun. I've just been on the other side of the scene for the last 8 weeks and am trying to dog-paddle my way back to the pack. Being outdoors, in the woods....man, just can beat the energy of it all.

Kuat makes a bad ass rack. Get one.

It was a hard ride for me, my legs felt like they were waking up from a long winters hibernation, and I've had a sinus infection for two weeks which pushes the lung comfort level down a notch, but I was psyched to be riding - super psyched. Not only did I have a great time, but I was energized to get back on a bike on a more consistent schedule. A great start was this ride at Swope. Plans for my next ride; Wednesday Night fellas, as the Pirate Rides are officially back on track. You know the drill. See you at 7 p.m. for the usual death march followed by some relaxation around a warm fire.

Lights, Action (no camera)...

Wednesday nights are usually reserved for you know what, but this week the choice was made to do some night racing at the Riverfront permaCXcourse. 
Pirate cXc races are always a blast, and there are usually some kind of shenanigans to partake in. Dirty Crits #4, Series Championships was a little bit on the tame side of norm (for Pirate races anyway); however, it was far from you're ordinary old Cyclocross event, but rather a night race with flavor.

Results in the making...

The Pirate crew had been getting things tuned-up and ready for this event for weeks. We'd been working with Ethos Racing and Shawnee Parks to design and build the areas only year-round, open to the public Cyclocross course. Last nights race was the first big event held on the newest and hopefully 'keeper' loop, consisting of grassy turns, barriers, run-ups in deep sand, heart-stopping descents, sand pits and good times.  Pirate cXc brought a few additions for this one-night-only event, including but not limited to; a Teeter-totter short-cut, Ladder Bridge Short-Cut, Bonus Time for stopping to grab a mystery puzzle piece out of an illuminated jack-o-lantern or shooting down a cup of Goldfish Crackers. It doesn't always pay to be fast, but if you use a solid strategy mixing speed with time bonus' and short-cuts, you might take home the bacon. Most of these options require A+ bike handling skills to get on the podium...and walk away unscathed.

Time Clock and Goldfish Shots

Hords of folks started pulling into the gravel parking area with Cyclocross and Mountain bikes alike, ready to rumble. Racers checked-in, received a sweet 'Dirty Crits' Spoke card, and prepped for racing. There was an 'A' race of about 12 miles and a 'B' race of about 9.5. It was getting cold and pitch-black dark. It's time to race.

The A group takes off from under the Start/Finish banner. Flash gets the hole-shot into the first series of turns when The Manimal breaks tradition and hits the Teeter-totter short-cut, gaining a solid 8-10 seconds on the lead group as everybody let out an audible 'OOOOOOHHHHH!!!'. We knew from the crowd reaction that someone just got schooled. Onto the Second short-cut, the Ladder Bridge and yet again The Manimal conquers and gains another few seconds on the lead group. After this everyone disappeared into the new section of 'wide singletrack' into the woods and on around the South end of the loop.

After a series of steep descents and climb-outs, the leaders were nearing an area were Pirate cXc had set-up a mini table-top jump and a kicker, to which Handleballs serviced Dukes of Hazard style, catching more air than Michael Jordan. Captain Cuntwat also took flight: we never knew those 4.5" tires could even leave the ground.

Beyond the kicker, riders would encounter the off camber sand pit, the Spiral of Doom and then a half mile of grassy turn-n-burn terrain. It was a sight to behold, all of the lights flowing across the fields at night like giant firefly's. Soon the lead group was nearing the finish of lap 1, and the barriers which were dispatched with ease by everyone in varied bunny-hop or running styles. First through the start/finish was T-Donn with a sub-ten-minute lap time.

The next three/four laps were similar, with cheering and heckling coming out of my every breath. There were some solid riders getting on it, rolling fast through the gate with that eye-of-the-tiger look; blazing. 

I think it was the third lap when Farmer and The Manimal, who'd been fighting the entire race for 3rd and 4th position, came upon the barriers like Chuck Norris' fist to an enemy. How they'd been sending this obstacle at top speed blew my mind, and on this lap blew Farmer to pieces. He ate major shit over the second barrier and lay in a crumpled pile on the ground next to his bike; rear wheel detached. I knew he was hurt pretty good when I saw him try to stand-up, only to return to the cold earth for more rest. I thought it was going to be really bad. 

Captain Cuntwat, who DNF'd due to lack of PSI in his fatties, returned to the grandstand and we helped Farmer to his feet, handed him his bike as a crutch and sent him home for some beauty sleep. Hope you're O.K. bro, that was a harsh crash to witness.

Time whizzed by and folks are flying in on their last lap. I did my best to get finish times written down for those who seemed to care; there was a trophy and prizes to be had, and kick-ass ones at that. A few of the ultimate Strava queens poofed from the finish into oblivion, only to have their awards kept by yours truly. Thanks!

Everyone made it into the finish within about 15 minutes of each other. It was getting cold, I was cold, everyone was cold; time for awards!

T-Donn, The Silent Killer and Handleballs - Top Dogs of the night/series

We regrouped in the parking lot. Some poor math was done, times and places calculated with accuracy not to be outdone by a half dozen elementary school kids. Beer was flowing, the stars were out and the top dogs took a little something home; be it a sixer of Guinness, a Taddihogg Cycling Hat, a BikeSource gift card or the coveted Unicorn & Fairy Series Championship Trophy. New friends were made, enemy's too and a grand night of racing was had by all. 

If you missed out, you truly missed out. There might be a next time, but for now... I am going to ride my bike in the woods for a long while. 

Cheers...

Tonight...

Night Race.

Be THERE.

Buy me...

SOLD

FOR SALE - BE AWESOME

Surly Karate Monkey 29er Single Speed (it can be set-up w/gears also)

• Surly Karate Monkey Frame (black, Medium)
• Waltworks Custom Steel Fork (Black)
• Chris King Headset (mango)
• Bontrager Race Lite Wheels (black)
• NEW Contenental Race King Tires
• Salsa Skewers (blue)
• Salsa Seat Clamp (blue)
• Thomson Post (black)
• NEW Thomson Stem (black)
• NEW Specialized Bar 31.8 (black)
• NEW Avid BB& Disc Brakes, FR5 Levers & Roundagon Rotors
• Truvative Stylo SS crank w/32t ring and bashring (black)
• Surly rear cog, your choice on size (16-20t)
• WTB Silverado Saddle (worn)
• Oury Grips (black)

$800 OBO
Frame and fork alone new are worth what I'm asking for the complete bike.
First come, first served. 

I accept Paypal or cash and am willing ship (buyer pays shipping).

More photos upon request. Serious inquries only, don't waist my time.

singlespeedpirate@gmail.com

Dirty Night Race...

Click HERE, then go ride your bike in the dark...

Full Moon...

Had a good time at Pirate cXc's Dirty Crits #3 last night during the full moon. 

Nothing like free booze and free racing to get you off the couch. 

Halloween Race...

Tonight, 6 p.m. free racing!!! The Pirate cXc boys are doing it up at the Riverfront CX park. Be there, or just be your usual boring, lame self... 

Wear a costume if you want to have more fun than a priest at scout camp!

Flash Gordon...

Wyco's Revenge...

Another Saturday night down the tubes in style with the Wyco's Revenge Endurance MTB race at Wyandotte County Lake Park. I can't think of a better time on a bike that didn't include mass quantities of Irish whiskey and cheerleaders. Dirt Dobber & Sons Racing really kicked off the end of the MTB season with a great time. The course, which was an eight mile loop of mostly single track, was in no way a weenie roast. There was a ton of climbing to be had, as well as super fun, death defying downhills narrowly bench cut into steep, leaf covered hillsides. 

Mappage

Per Dirt Dobber norms, we started the race on foot, running in circles until we stumbled haphazardly like druken gnomes to our bikes. Then we were off on what seemed like a half mile of gravel before we were dumped into the singletrack. Once on the singletrack it was a man-train of sorts rolling not-so-fast up the initial climb. Unfortunately for me running one gear, the granny's in front made the 32x18 I was pushing feel TALL. Hard is a good thing though...you don't get any stronger pushing a pussy gear.

Burnsey

It was very difficult to pass on the course (other than on the gravel and at few road crossings). The singletrack was narrow and there were a lot of trees. The terrain was steep with was minimal area at one side of the trail to actually fit two bikes. At times I'd just grind behind someone for what seemed like an eternity before there was an opportunity to pass, but pass I did. 

The Lady Silent Killer

The first two laps were in the daylight, the second two were at night, in the pitch black darkness  The course was well marked - even low branches or narrow passages had reflectors giving you a subtle 'beware'. We did four (8) mile laps for a total of 32 miles and 2,240' of kick a$$ climbing. The trail felt so good and flowed like a pump track. It took me back to the days of old - as a kid on a BMX bike - big shit eating grin.

Moon

My pals Coletrain and The Silent Killer were there racing too, somewhere ahead of me in the dark. I knew they would have a good chance at the podium, since T-Donn and G-Wiz were no where to be found. Sure enough, post race, there they were - Coletrain with a 3rd place overall (riding his rigid single speed with a wrecked knee) and The Silent Killer close behind in 4th (also riding one gear). I'm sure there is nothing other than the Pirate Night Rides that keep a fella in that good of condition, truly. I succeeded in my usual race goal of 'Finish, Not Last' with 16th place. Not bad for a cave man who can hardly get out and ride (like I want anyway).

Coletrain on the Podium

Thanks again the the Lockes' for promoting such a cool event at a park that allows open containers and campfires. I'll be back next year for seconds. Delicious!

The Black Pearl

My Ragged-out rear tire. Donations please?

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