Hudson CX

What a freakin' awesome race. This was the one of the year. 7th overall and 5th for B1's. I got me some points. What a way to end the year. I hope they keep it this late in the season next year. The snow was a real treat.

More to come later. I need to go eat some chilli and drink some beer. I have some pics and video I'll post later.

I love this sport!

BCR Team Survey

Please take some time to fill out this quick survey. Your feedback will help us make the team better for all. Please read each question carefully and rate them according to the instructions for each. If you have any questions please ask them separately here on my blog.



1. How would you rate your overall experience with BCR this year? (1-10, 10 being the best)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. Please rate your interest level for each cycling discipline. (1-10, 10 being the best)

a. MTB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
b. Road 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
c. CX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
d. Other 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
e. Other 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
f. Please list in order:__________________
__________________________________

3. What do you prefer? Just getting out and riding or racing?

Must Race--Some Racing--Either/or--Just ride--I don't need no stinkin' race
-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 (spectrum, 0 being middle of the road, use #'s +/-)

4. How important are team rides? (1-10, 10 being the best)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5. Do you feel that the team would ride at a pace you could handle?
a)Yes b)No, too fast c)No, too slow

6. Did you take advantage of any of our sponsors? If so, what was your experience? Do you like having product sponsors?





7. Do you think BCR should put on other events besides the Leb TT? If yes, what kind of events?








8. Please use the space below to list or comment on things we could do better, more of, or less of. Remember these comments are anonymous so do your thing:







A big thanks to all who came out for BCR this season. We’ll be working hard this fall/winter so we can provide you with a fun, rider focused team for 2006. Not to mention DOMINATING! So have a great off-season and we’ll see you all in the spring.

Ham Lake

Not so just in:

Cooler temps so I was forced to break out the leg-warmers. Again with the bad start. At least I'm clipping in with no problem. I can't believe I actually admit to that. Ham Lake is always a tricky start. You get funneled into a thin line right off the start but this year they added a chicane to stretch things out even more. Once we hit the road I popped it into the big ring, grabbed the drops, tucked my head and went all out. I knew I had to make up some serious time if I wanted to ensure a top 20 spot. I was successful in passing a ton of riders only to find myself soloing the rest of the race. I may never stick with the lead group but I always have a blast. Ended up 18th overall.



This weekend will have me up in Taylors Falls and not at Buck (I think?). Too bad 'cause the Grizz is going to give the cross thing a try but has to work on Saturday so I'll miss his maiden voyage into Cyclocross heaven. There's always next year?

Lake Rebecca Recap

What a great race. The start was a little hairy, didn't get the hole shot I was looking for. Dan and I should have been a little more agressive and butted our way in line before the start. Oh well. I too had a little problem getting blocked out on the first run-up only to lose my chain bouncing up the hill. That kinda blew my chances of bridging the main group. Next time maybe I'll think to check it before I try to remount. It did however make for some fun reeling in. I eventually found myself battling with Mettler,I think, and some other guys from Alan and Birchwood. We just kept going back and forth. I'd blow them away on the barriers and hills but they'd always catch up and eventually pass me. The finish:I got up the final hill looked back and saw no one. After lining up the slight downhill into the finish and grabbing my big ring, I made one last look back. Crap! I had picked up a bogie. I picked up the pace a little only to looked back to see him gaining ever so slightly. He looked to be a little stocky so a didn't want to lead him up to the line only to get smoked. It was now or never. "Bridge to engine room, FULL POWER!" I just ducked my head and cranked. I took off like the Millenium Falcon making the jump to lightspeed. I was able to hold him off only to find my legs on the verge of blowing up like the Death Star. Wow, what a great finish. It could have been for second to last place and it would have been just as exciting. It's always awesome to have a sprint finish even if you lose out in the end. At least for now.I have to leave for Chicago this Sunday at 4:45pm. Not sure if I'll make it to Boom Island. We'll see.

Orono CX

Turned out to be pretty nice conditions. The field was rather large, 65 riders I think. Started off strong staying with the lead pack again for the first lap and a half. Pulled out ahead of Dan only to get reeled back in. After getting reeled in I started to fade missing a break that Dan took full advantage of and that was the last I saw of him. So, I managed to latch on to a group of two and sucked wheel for a while. Soon I realized they were moving too slow so I decided to make a break for it. Was successful dropping one of the guys but the other one from Birchwood was too strong. It came down to just he and I at the finish and one lap around the track. this is the part I love. Just like what you see in all the pro races. I knew I had enough to do battle but unfortunately do to my inexperience when he decided to wind up for the sprint I couldn't shift into my big ring. So he gapped me a little. But I caught up to him as we exited the turn. I could have made a play at the line but like an idiot I dropped down into a lower gear and spun out(gear wise). Anyway, it was a great race,better than last week, and an exciting finish.

Next up, Lake Rebecca

Impostor!!!

Not sure what to think of this one. It's quite Freaky really.

http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/Main_Page

Pork Chop

What a great day for cyclocross. 58 degrees and rainy. Got up to St. Cloud with plenty of time to get registered and meet up with Dan for a warm up. It was more cold than warm so we made it a short one.

I must be the worst at starting a race. Again I couldn't clip in. So I faded out towards the back taking my time trying to get that damn cleat in the pedal. I eventually got it in and made my sprint up towards the front. After that I spent about half the racing running in the top 10. I was so happy to be feeling so good when all of the sudden I cramped up. I knew my fitness wasn't where it needed to be so I knew my laps were numbered. In addition to that my back started cramping. That was a new one. Must be getting old. At any rate I was slowing down and the one person I had to beat slipped away. Oh well, there's always next weekend. And I will come back stronger for Orono. So don't get comfy Dan.

Wayzata Alumni Meet

Check out my resutls at the Wayzata alumni XC meet:

http://www.wayzataresults.com/alumni05.htm

Cycloforum

Hey all you 4 people who view this blog. Thought I'd create a forum for the cycling community that wouldn't have an association to any one organization. This way you can feel free to say what ever you want as long as it pertains to cycling. Maybe it's just my fasination with having too many places to search for information about our sport. Or, maybe it's because I have too much time. Either way let me know what you think. It would make a great opening topic.

http://xsorbit29.com/users5/cycloforum/index.php

Hollywood CX clinic

First let me say it was a wise choice to opt for the clinic instead of staying home for the Vikes game. I had a feeling they'd blow it. Not that I'm hatin' on the Queens but c'mon.

The deal:

It was hot. Too hot maybe for CXing but what a great time. Got to hand it to Hwood Cycles, Silver Cycling, and Super Team. They did a very fine job. I really learned alot. I knew the season I had under my belt was a season of bad technique. But now my dismounts/remounts are much more fluid and faster now. If you're new to the sport you gotta check this clinic out next year. They do a great job at getting everyone involved no matter what level you're at.

Then for the finale we had a 20 min. plus one lap race. I'm supposed to race 45 min. this season and that 20 killed me. Of course I had to hold back so as not to over heat. I ended up taking 4th overall, but that wasn't the important part. I was able to dial in my technique in a race situation. That was the key to the whole thing. I'm now more confident about dismaounts/remounts and stoked for the season to start.

CX sched. 2005

These are the races I plan on hitting this season:


 # 2 - Sun, Sep 25 - Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club – Riverside Park, St Cloud, MN
 # 3 - Sun, Oct 2 – Tonka Cycles / MCT – Orono High School, Orono, MN
 # 4 - Sun, Oct 9 - Grand Performance / St Paul Bicycle Racing Club - Lake Rebecca State Park, Rockford, MN
 # 7 - Sat, Oct 22 - Peacock Grove / St Paul Bicycle Racing Club - Ham Lake Bible Camp, Ham Lake, MN
 # 9 - Sat, Oct 29 - Gopher Wheelmen, Red Barn CX, Taylors Falls, MN
 # 12 - Sun, Nov 26 - Hudson Riverfront Cross - Lakefront Park, Hudson, WI

Of course this is a tentative schedule so don't hold me to it.

Here we go again. But this time it's serious?

We've been through this many times before and it ends up the same. Not so this time.

So the can't help but tick us off again. Leblanc is a moron. If they actually have verifiable results, why now. Why did they wait until a month after his retirement. Who linked Lance's name to the code on the bottle. Why is it the French WADA who has these findings. These are all good questions. But I have a better one.

Why are the French such spineless jellyfish. Why did we help them out of WWII. Ok, the second one was stupid. But the point should be noted. L'equipe is in the business of selling papers and what sells better then a scandal. So at the end of this they fire the person who is responsible. Wow, that's great. But Lance might be left with fans and non-fans alike wondering if he really achieved any of his accolades legitimately.

If you know me you now I'm a huge Lance fan. Am I glad his reign over the pro peleton is over? Yes. There are so many good riders out there right now that should have a piece of the lime light. All this crap with the French brings me full circle though. I'm back on the Lance band wagon and I'll back him all the way. If he is found to have tested positive, I'll be eating some words. Oh well. I won't be the only one.

The circus is just getting started folks so stay tuned there is so much more to come. And if you think only Lance will turn up in this thing your dead right. Well, at least until it might help the French WADA to look legitimate.

Do you know this trail?

Here's a hint. You can't ride it, and I no longer live by it.


I'll never tell

Back from Portland

Missed Welch again. Had to go to Portland to be in a buddies wedding. Great weddng but wished I'd been back on Sunday to race. Made the best of it though. Went to Mt. Hood and the coast. Did some hiking no biking.

so now it's all about the Powder Monkey and Laddies Loppett. Maybe we'll see Andy at a MTB race before the end of the season. Unfortunately I won't be racing Exptert at Maplelag since I need as many points as I can get for comp. Would have been a great race. Makin' Sick Boy look stupid and all. Oh well.

Afton..... State park

Just got back from hiking with the family at Afton state park. How perfect. We packed a little picnic lunch and went for a 4 mile hike. Had lunch under a huge oak next to the river. Perfect! One of the best none riding days of the season so far. Think we'll have to do that some more.

Next weekend-Portland.

Muddy River Rock'n Roll

Wow. What a race. Again, I couldn't seem to get into my pedal. Nerves I guess. I need to figure that one out before the CX season starts. Anyway we got off with out stacking it up. Nice! Made my way passed tons of people on the first straight(once I was clipped in). Then we took that quick left over the bump onto the other field. Made up quite a few more positions. Then we got into the singletrack. This is where the fun started. At that point I had hopped in right in front of the Grizz (Adam) and we just rocked through it. It was great! He was calling out all the turns and jumps like a co-driver in an off-road rally race. That ended abruptly when we came up the first little incline. Seems as if somebody was a little too close. There was a quick left turn at the top of the climb. I stalled out and the Grizz went down. I held up a little bit to stay with my compatriot (needed the Ligettism), but we came into some traffic and that was the last I saw of him. From that point on I just hammered. Followed a guy on a Salsa Dos Niner from Kenwoods halfway through the 1st lap until halfway through the 2nd. After that I was on my own and flying. Ok maybe I hitched up with a group at the begining of the 3rd and final lap. Once I caught them I felt like I had a bit more to give. So I attacked just before one of the slight climbs on the fast double track in the woods. I flicked over to the left onto the soft stuff and made my move. Got past the group and there was the incline. I was praying that I wouldn't fade back to the fold and look like an idiot. When I made it to the top I looked back to see that no one hand the legs to chase me down. Nice! Then I was really on my own for the rest of the race. I was feeling great! Awsome in fact. It was at that point I again remembered how great this sport is, and why you have to keep at it when times are tough. It's the tough times that make the good times feel so good. Anyway, back to the race. So I'm thinking this is pretty sweet. Then all of the sudden my grip twists off the bar and I end up in the trees. After wrestling my way free of the tree I got back on the bike and up to speed. After I stuffed my grip into my pocket I realized that the sweat from my helmet was now covering my sunglasses. So I ripped those off and stuffed them away as well. At this point I kinda loss my impetus. Things started to get a little sketchy and I knew I had to get to the finish quick. Before I knew it I was at the last right turn before the finish. Excellent! So I kicked it up a notch for the crowd or what was left of it and made may way across the line. I was hoping for a top 5 overall finish but had to settle for a twelfth overall and a 4th in my age group. I can live with that! Next up, Powder Monkey.

Nice job to all the racers especially BCR's Grizz and Rubber Band Dan!

Leg check

Was going to write something about my ride today, but the words wouldn't flow.

Think I'll just go to bed. Have to be up a 5 am if I want to get a ride in tomorrow. Ooch!

New trail, riders wanted

Recently rode Salem Hills trail in InverGrove. Reminds me alot of Arizona. There's no cacti but the trail is pretty wide open with minimal climbs. It is difficult to navigate and the begining part of the trail is very over grown. If we could just get enoungh people to ride the trail it could turn into a pretty sweet trail system. So go to the MORC website to get directions and bring some friends. I can't wait until this weekend so I can go back.

After the Bluff

So the race at mount kato went pretty well. Kinda had to since I've been sucking it up pretty bad lately.

It was obviously going to be blazing hot out so I tried to be ready for it. Drank tons of water a couple days before the race. What made the difference? Think it was the 5 gels I consumed throughout the course of the race.

Had a little scare at the begining though. Couldn't clip into one of my pedals (rookie). Immediately I thought, here we go again. Guess it ticked me off just enough to get the engines going. Once we hit the first climb I was instantly aware of how everyone legs were feeling. The pitch didn't feel that bad for me so I knew it was going to be a good race. It's been a long time since I hadn't thought about dropping out of a race. I just kept eating my gels (power bar). I felt like the Energizer bunny. don't worry, I won't say it. At the end of every climb I felt as fresh as I did at the begining. I actually thought for a while there that I was in first. Ha ha, not so. Well I ended up taking 7th overall and 3rd in my age group. A long ways from 110th overall at the Firecracker.

So it seems as if my form has been there all along but my energy wasn't. So when the MNSCS heads to Memorial park in a couple weeks, I'll prep the same and see what happens.

Not so Fire Cracker... More like a dud

Here's a little pick of how good I looked at the Firecracker




This ones for you Andy.

Opening Statement

Welcome to the Wiki Beelog.

Not sure how all this works so I'll just mess around 'til it looks good.