Good Riding Weather

The weather has been great the last week for some good riding. Went out on a 35 mile road ride on Friday after work. Followed it up with a 17+ miler at Lebanon with Josh and Andy. Feeling in top form. Ready for winter ;)

Training Triathlon

Ran a psuedo triathlon last night. First, Jenny wanted to run when we got home from work. We did our 2 mile slog with Max pacing us on his bike. The transition include a fire in the backyard with s'mores. Stage 2 was a 17 mile ride just as it was getting dark. Really felt my legs coming off a week and a half of rest. I found that speed I have been missing this season.

On a side note, the Pizza Luce that just opened in Hopkins/SLP was packed with bikers. They picked a good location putting it in the old baker's square next to the LRT bikepath.

The final stage of the triathlon was 2 laps in the tub. Victory!

Weekend Riding

Put 25 miles of logging trails and dirt road on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday. Both days were extremely windy.

Not sure what races to do for the end of the season. I won't get to Duluth for the great hawk chase, and I can't make it to Laddies Loppet. That leaves the Jail Trail in late September and a big void in my racing calendar for the next month. I guess I could look at doing some of the Thursday nigh traces, but it is a bit anti-climatic not to have an epic race for the end of the season...

Racing Recap

It has been an interesting year. For starters, I have probably raced more than I ever did throughout college. I have logged 20 races since returning in 2009, and am amazed by how much I could learn along the way. What is most important, I have found, is to have fun. That has been a struggle with some of the conditions we have raced in this year, but it has made me stronger.

There are 3 races left in the MMBS and a number of smaller races. It should be an interesting end to the season.

Border Battle

Raced the Border Battle yesterday and died of heat exhaustion (heat index over 100F). Came back from the dead to type this blog update.

Course conditions were a repeat of last year. It rained the night before, so guess what? Mud. Not a lot of mud, but enough to cake your tires and slow you down.

Felt good, but was not going to cook myself. Not a stellar finish, but was enough to move up on points with the guy in the #5 spot. Results: 13/27 AG, 105/215 OA, Three laps at Whitetail Ridge in 1:27:44

WORS knows how to put on a race...

On a funny (for me) but shameful note, I probably did the worst passing job in my life at this race. At the end of the third lap I was hitting some lap traffic. I had just passed a group of 5 riders that I was racing against, and was trying to hold a gap. On a short climb I caught up to a women followed by a man. The women knew I was there and made some room. I passed on her right, but got boxed in by the guy and the trail. I had this great idea that I could bushwhack between 2 trees and swing in front of the guy. During my elegant pass I cut across the front of the women, split the two trees and cut into the guy resulting in him going off track. Nobody went off their bike, but I was probably seen as a giant a-hole. I apologized immediately, but I don't think they took my antics lightly. Oops.

Last of The Thursday Night at Buck

Had a great time a Buck last night. We made it a family affair with the 2 oldest boys racing. I raced advanced and finished in 1:04. Asher raced recreational and Josh raced beginner. I was able to ride most of the race with Josh. He was just starting when I was finishing.

It was a good night for all. I won the raffle and so did Josh Collins. The boys got plenty of candy and treats. Everybody was happy. We will need to do more of these next year...

Head Hunter

Played in my last lacrosse game for the season. We lost 6-5, but it was a real good time. I am going to miss seeing the guys, but it sounds like we might get a winter league setup.

For the second time in the last 2 games I clocked someone in the head (helmet) with a shot. If I could only envision a head in the goal, I might actually score.

Buck Hill Birch Bump

I had a good race on Sunday at Buck. I ran the best race I could and was happy with my finish. It was a little hot on the front climbs with the sun beating down, but that is to be expected for an August 1st race.

I started the race slow and dialed up the speed over the 4 laps. I had a good pace going until I pulled into the singletrack on the second lap. I hit some slow traffic, and couldn't get past a guy. I asked to pass and he acknowledged, but he never gave an opening. After about 2 minutes of me riding his wheel and shooting for holes, he says something to the point that he is not sure how to let me pass? The question didn't even make sense. After about 20 more seconds he pulls wide on a turn and I was able to get the inside. I lost the gap I had built on the racers behind me, and could hear them coming.

The rest of the race I duked it out with the #4 guy. He is a smaller rider with a FS bike, so he seemed to have an advantage on the climbs and rocky front sections. We raced the last 2 laps where he would gap me on the front climb, I would reel him in through the singletrack, he would gap me on the front section... On the last lap in the last section of singletrack, he gapped me enough to break away when we hit the front section. I tried to pull him back in, but the heat was really getting to me. In the end, he finished 12 seconds ahead.

Results: 5/12 in AG and 45/122 overall. Time was 1:03:54.