Follow along as I (semi) train for my mountain bike racing season.
Created by grizzlyadam on Jun 24, 2008
Last updated: 10/17/10 at 09:27 PM
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I've been out on the bike already this year, but that was with the family and the Burley and lasted about 6 miles. It was great to get out with the family, but today was the first lengthy ride of 2010. Spur of the moment I head out for my Eagan 18 lap, which has a nice mix of rolling hills, flats and country side. The weather was nice - a little wind, clear skies and temps that warranted shorts and arm warmers. I threw on a vest just in case. It was perfect. I felt better than I expected and managed to keep the pace up on the climbs. I could feel my heartrate on the climbs, but it recovered fairly quickly afterwards. Mentally I tried to pull a Stallone and go "Over the Top" when the climbs came. I found my lungs and legs recovered well and I had a blast. I've finally decided that I do need to get some new shoes...Eagan 18Find more Bike Rides in Eagan, Minnesota
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-ride-of-2010.html
I found a team mate for the Urban Assault Ride next weekend. My BCR team mate and friend, Tyson, has agreed to join me on my first UAR event. Our team name: Brews and Bar Ends. Honors both the after ride festivities we often enjoy and the mid 90's era Onza bar ends I continue to rock on my mountain bike.I'm not sure what to expect, so I'm mostly following Ty this time around. Hopefully we can have a good enough time and consume some fine brews afterwards! Check back later for results. Maybe even some Twitter updates...
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/09/brews-and-bar-ends.html
In case you don't recall.....Wiken and I had a little competition going on this year: The BCR Smackdown.In an email from him this morning, he has conceded! I present that email for you now.I'm not going to st cloud. We have a soccer jamberie from 10:00-12:00on Saturday. :(I originally thought the race was this weekend.congratulations on winning the BCR Smackdown! I love it. I have officially beaten my friend on the team. Who showed up to two races. DNF'd one. And will probably kick ass in CX this year....Yes, my ego is large.Now where's my prize?
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/09/winner.html
There's a cool race coming up and I need a partner. Click here for a contest and your shot at winning a free entry into this year's New Belgium Brewery Urban Assault Ride!https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHhXdk5UaDdVdjUzeXVHSklfdThiQ3c6MA..
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/08/urban-assault-ride-september-27th.html
This weekend marks the fist time that Elk River has played host to a MNSCS event. The organizer, Rich Omdahl, has taken great lengths to ensure that his course is ready for the added participants. I expect this to be one of the largest events of the series thus far. I'm guessing people will want to check out the course. Rich puts on a great event and can draw the crowds, so it should be a good time. Elk River has had many races in the past, but nothing quite like the size that the MNSCS can draw. So to accommodate for the added racers, Rich has added some new trail to help the entry into the single track. Read the description:This beginer loop starts in the front parking lot closest to the tar road yet far side of lot from the entrance. this runs the outside perimeter of section 1 then section two of the park property all of it being west of section 1 and 2. This will be used in the race as well.so for Citizen Race you will start the race in the far back parking lot (though the big gate on gravel road by start and finish of loop in front lot.Race start from back lot up the gravel road into section 1 then 2. Instead of using the gravel road again to the front lot you will circle back to the front lot on this beginer loop single/ double track (west of 1 and 2). You pop out of the woods into the front parking lot and head for the port a pottie accross the lot then up the little hill into section 1 then 2 for finish right there in the back lot culdesack. At the end of section 2 a hard left goes to the back lot and straight will continue on into sections 3 . There are signs posted there.You can see the a GPS of the Comp course - in action - here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8034999I'm excited for this race for several reasons: I love riding at Elk River, I love events that Rich puts on and BCR should have a nice compliment of riders in both the Sport and Comp class!If you haven't yet, be sure to get your registration on right here: https://secure.tstmedia.com/register/860909185Bring your fave jersey to be signed - Dr. Chad is making an appearance on the race course after a 4+ year hiatus!See ya this weekend!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/07/mnscs6-elk-river-preview.html
Charlotte racing in Duluth from Adam Emanoff on Vimeo.Charlotte's 3rd race. This one is in Duluth. The course was fairly short and started uphill, but had a nice downhill. Way to go peanut!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/07/charlotte-at-races.html
I haven't been on the bike for a long time. Basically the last race was the last time I've ridden. I'm hoping the fever of the Tour will propel me along in the race this weekend...ha! We'll be hitting Red Wing for the Memorial Classic. The course is pretty fun and has some really good single track. Hopefully it won't be too hot.Tonight I'm riding with Dr. Chad. Either Leb or Murphy, so I'm sure we'll have a good time. The more and more that I ride at Leb, the more and more I wish we were doing a time trial there. The new trail would really lend to some good laps and up the challenge a bit.Anyone want to donate some cash to help pay for the permit?! We'll list you as a sponsor and say your name every other sentence...
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/07/mnscs4-is-coming.html
"I'm always trying to get you pumped for Afton"-Marc WikenAnd I appreciate the fact that you're trying to get me pumped up for it, but dude, I don't think it'll ever happen. We just don't get along. Maybe because Afton exposed my non-climbing skills. Or that it always feels either up or down and the technical stuff is absent (apart from one or two short sections).My day started out just as I was feeling. Slow. I hovered near the back knowing that if I were to be up front with Marc, I'd just get in the way. The course changed up the first part of the lap nicely, running us down the dirt road for a bit before hitting the single track. There were some small additions as well along the course - new switchbacks - that seemed to get lots of people riled up due to having to slow down. There was one section - Cliff's Edge - that was pretty cool. Very rocky and had a sharp corner. I managed to pass someone through there. A couple other sections that were twisty and bumpy I also put a gap on the riders behind me. However, that didn't last long as I had to go uphill. I just had no legs. Or mental confidence. However, I did get to see Wiken haul ass up near the front for part of the first lap. He was making some good passes and getting near the front. The manhandler couldn't handle Wiken as he picked off riders using his middle ring. Sadly, Afton got the better of him and he DNFd after two flats. After awhile, I saw Dan coming behind me up Shady Lane and I was relieved that it was taking him so long to catch me. Was I riding better than I felt? Or was I delirious and Dan had already passed me and what I saw wasn't real? Dan never caught me, but in post race discussions it turned out that we both had poor races that day. Afton got the better of us.This was almost the most fun I had on course:Photo courtesy of www.skinnyski.comIn other races, Jess, Scott and Dave completed their Sport races! This is Jess' first year in Sport, so an extra lap at Afton is no easy task. Dave decided that he better get some extra sleep and woke up just in time to speed to the race and line up literally within minutes of the start. He's no Dan, but getting close....Scott finished his first Afton race for BCR! We first met at Afton way back when. We should have had some sort of anniversary dinner....We were missing Tyson, but for obvious reasons.Tim, or other newcomer to the team managed to rock the house on his SS in Comp. He tagged me sometime on the 3rd lap as he went by and managed a nice 4th in age group finish. Again.Next up: Dirt Spanker in Duluth. It appears we'll be heading up for that one. Hopefully I can find my climbing legs as I enjoy the course. I have placed there before....As much as it pains me to bring it up....with Wiken's DNF at Afton, we are now tied in the BCR Smackdown.Should be interesting from here on out, as I don't know that we'll be at many more of the same races...
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/06/mnscs2-done.html
What a great day for a race. Very little wind, sunny and good temps. The crowds looked big the general buzz around the race was positive. People were excited to back in competition.This year we had a full field of Sport racers for BCR, so there was a lot of orange. Great to see that again. Same went for Comp - 5 total racers, wow.The course this year was different in that we would be running it backwards - say what?Charlotte also had her first race today and she was pretty excited. We had her line up at the line for some good photo ops. However, once the kids were all lined up around her, it was apparent that she may get run over. She was brave though, and handled the start like a champ and took off on her Strider bike. The lap was part of our course and longer than what I thought it was going to be. Still, she stuck to it and rode like a champ. She crashed once (like her daddy), got help from me twice, and missed the finish line (also like daddy). After we were done, she said in her cute little voice "I wanna go 'gain."Now it was time for my race. I lined up near the front because there was no prologue lap and I saw the Sport racers bunch up like mad into the singletrack. Andy M. said his first lap was slower by 5 minutes due to the pileup. I was hoping to avoid as much of that as I could. I was just behind Wiken at the line and rocketed off on GO. I have a great start, just not enough gas to keep it for the entire race. I managed to stay near the front entering the singletrack and was cruising along pretty well. I made some quick decision passes when people dabbed or went offline and had a good pace going. I got stuck behind a CX bike and he rode wide, meaning he filled up the trail, so it was hard to pass him. I held on until the rock drop and when he went around I took the rock and passed him. There was a train behind him, so I had to push it to make more time. I managed to stay in front of Wiken the entire first lap - yay! But then early in the 2nd lap I called out a pass to the right and the person moved right, hitting my bars and sending me into the weeds. I heard my shifters hit the carbon as they crossed the top tube. When I got back on I realized my shifter pod for the rear was busted and not working. I was stuck in this gear. Luckily my front derailleur worked, so I had something to work with. However, the gears were never really all that great, so I lost a lot of places trying to make things work. Wiken passed. More riders passed. Dan passed and more riders passed. I limped it home got a nice hug from Charlotte and we shared chocolate milk to celebrate our races.Thanks to everyone who showed up to respresent BCR today!Matt H.Scott M.Andy M. - in stealth mode with no BCR jerseyJess W. - in stealth mode with no BCR jerseyDave B.Shane M. - in stealth mode with no BCR jerseyNeil O.Dan I.Marc W.Chris D.Tim W.(did I forget anyone?)And of course friends and family who gave us water, cheered and helped us out - you rock.On a sadder note - Wiken takes the lead in the BCR Smackdown Score:And now the pics:
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/05/mnscs-1-in-bag.html
The morning started off with 3 pieces of french toast with peanut butter and syrup. Next up I ran around trying to find all my gear. I guess the last time I used my long sleeve jersey I left it in some backpack/bag to fester and smell nice, so I had to dig around for my arm warmers. I had the stopwatch ready. Bike was set. The time was approaching quickly as to when Scott would arrive to give me a ride.Once we got loaded up, we took off. One last call to Wiken to ensure that I didn't need to bring anything else and we were considered on our way.As we drove up to the parking lot, there were other cars! We also spotted Tybo Ty hanging in the Jetta and Wiken running around in only his bib shorts (not really...). Wiken informed us that the we were the lucky 4! The other cars were there but he hadn't seen anyone with a bike. We unloaded and asked Ty and Scott to work registration and parking while Marc and I marked the course. After several explanations of how the course was going to go, it was clear Wiken had no idea. We set up cones for the lap and flags for the prologue. My stop watch managed to be about 10-12 minutes slow, which was okay, as it was reading a couple minutes to 8am. Perfect time to get underway.The three of them hungout in the designated start box and I stayed by the watch, doing the countdown. GO!As the group made their way to me, I joined up and we were underway. I knew that this race counted for something in the BCR Smackdown Challenge, so I wanted to do what I could to come out ahead of Wiken. My strategy was to suck his wheel and see if I could hang on. As we entered the singletrack, the order was Wiken, Ty, me, Scott. After the first turn I think Ty was trying to block me...or else he was just having flashbacks to Afton and weaving back and forth in the trail, In case he was having flashbacks, I didn't want to be in the way, so I went around him and settled into position with Wiken. The pace was good, but I found myself wondering if I could hold it for 4 laps. In my peripheral I could see Ty hanging on a bit back and occassionally Scott too. As we entered the wooded section at the southern most part of the course, I found myself closing any sort of gap and thought to myself that if I needed to make up (or put on) any time, this could be a place to do it. I hung on until we hit the course-option rock. Wiken went left and I took the rock placing me in front. I tried to keep the pace and could tell I was able to create a small gap in the Northern Loop as it gets tight and twisty - another spot to gain/add time? Yes.I led for the 2nd lap and after awhile Wiken started talking to me, so I figured my pace must be slower than the first time around....sometimes I still see Ty behind us for the 2nd lap. Lap three starts and I pass my other water bottle. Next time I think to myself. Wiken goes around me as we start #3 and instantly there's a gap. I try to close it, but can't. He seems to be pushing hard. Little areas that I told myself I could make up time didn't seem to be working. Would Wiken be getting the first kudos in the BCR Smackdown Challenge? Seems like. I tried to press on. As we hit the North Loop I found myself getting closer. A couple more turns and he's within striking distance. I keep the RPMs high and keep pushing. I'm on him and we're headed to the lap area of the course. We both stop and trade bottles and chat for maybe 10 seconds. Now it's on to lap 4. I take the lead and try to psych myself up for a sprint to the finish. Fortunately it's not likely to be that type of finish, as there's a gap between us right away. I smile. However, a short time later, I see Ty coming. Nicely done I think to myself. Then I notice that Ty is between Wiken and myself. Uh oh.Not much I can do as Ty catches and passes me. I try to hang on, but it hurts. I can see Ty's sweat trail in the dirt, so I know he's working hard. Pretty good for a guy who just broke his neck....We hit the prairie sections and I curse the wind and try to get aero. Just before the North Loop there's a "hill" and I know that there's little chance of me catching Ty there. It has to be inside the North Loop. I hit the RPMs again and try to do my best singletrack riding, but Ty's on a mission. I hit the pavement for the home stretch and I see him dismounting to grab the clock. I do the same and log in about 17-20 seconds behind. Later Wiken comes in with Scott just behind him.Excellent time everyone! I had a blast. Way to go Ty on the win - not bad for a guy who broke his neck....
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/05/bcr-paper-plate-shooutout-invitational.html
BCR Paper Plate Shootout Invitational DetailsDue to weather, keep an eye on MORC for the latest trail conditions. If it's too wet the event will be post-poned/canceled. When: Saturday, May 2nd 8am. Arrive earlier for a race meeting at 7:45.Where: Salem Hills (click for a map)How Much: Free! Details:As stated in the original email, this event is free and very loosely organized. It's important for you to know that the course is open for any riders. This will not happen on a closed course, so don't be a jerk to other riders who may be out riding. Registration will be at the black Jetta, first come first served. Timing will be by a battery operated clock and final timing will be posted at www.oncourseproductions.blogspot.com. There will be a short prologue lap.Two race groups: Novice - 2 laps - 9.2 miles Advanced - 4 laps - 18.4 miles Start times will vary slightly depending on the turnout. Small: everyone starts at the same time. Large: Advanced first. Timing:We will be using an honor based timing system. This means you race the number of laps you signed up for and record it on the the "Timing" sheet that will be displayed on the black Jetta. Example: #001 1:20 We will pull the results together and post them on www.oncourseproductions.blogspot.com Things to remember while you're racing:Be courteousDon't cut the courseAnnounce your passesBe courteous The race course will be discussed at 7:45am. We'll go over the distances, trail etiquette, and start/finish/laps.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/04/bcrppsoi-details.html
Check this link for more details:
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/04/bcr-paper-plate-shootout-invitational.html
Check out who I made psuedo famous on the interwebs!http://jimination.com/2009/04/19/earth-week-day-5-jimi-giveaway-and-a-guy-who%e2%80%99ll-get-you-to-ride-to-work/I can do this for you as well. Conatact me if your image needs a makeover or you simply want a picture of you on the web. Price is negotiable
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/04/psuedo-famous.html
The other day I found myself daydreaming about shoes. Not just any shoes, mostly shoes from my high school days. I remember I had some crazy weird RED adidas that I had no idea how to match up with any of my clothes, but yet I wore them anyway. Remember Reebok Pumps? Hightops? 3/4 tops? What about those little friendship pin thingies...yeah - I had none to put on my shoes.To help bring you along in my daydreaming, I've created this simple little shoe quiz. Check out the pics below and then enter the brands into the form after the pictures. See how well you know your shoes.Shoe #1Shoe #2Shoe #3Shoe #4Shoe #5Shoe #6Shoe #7Shoe #8Shoe #9Shoe #10Loading...
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/03/shoe-quiz.html
I figured that I better get to work on preperations for the BCR Smackdown, so I finally sat on the bike last night and rode for 30 minutes. Top Gear on mute listening to an iPod really helps the time fly by. For the BCR Smackdown, I realize that I'm going to need all the help I can get, as Wiken is quite the beast on the bike. He's got some strong legs and lungs and can keep pushing for the entire race. While I tend to fizzle and don't seem to have much endurance (or crash right after the start). So my focus for this late training session will be on endurance and focus. Trying to maintain a good pace for the entire race distance. On a good note, my weight is down by about 7lbs from this same time last year:One more thing that I think can help me score points against Wiken will be the technical courses. I seem to have an advantage on him there.We'll see!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/03/too-little-too-late.html
Myself and a small team at work are working towards helping out a local shop in town that gives back to the community in a great way and we need your help.Are you planning on a bike upgrade this year?Are you looking to get rid of that old bike in your garage?Don’t sell them or throw them away!Full Cycle is a bike shop in Minneapolis that helps homeless youth by giving them free bikes to fix up and ride. Full Cycle also sells quality used bikes and provides expert bike servicing to fund programs that help homeless youth.We met the team at Full Cycle last week and were very impressed with their program and their desire to help homeless youth. Not only do they provide bikes for them, but they offer internships at the shop to learn how to wrench on the bikes, how a business works and show them what helping others is like. It's really a great program and the staff there are a real dedicated bunch. We need your help. Please consider donating old bikes/parts so that Full Cycle can implement your parts into their program and you can help save a youth. Full Cycle is also on the verge of opening a section of their floor to used bike sales to help fund their endeavor. If you feel like donating cash in addition or instead of, I can get details on that for you. Get in touch with me if you think you have something that could make a difference in a homeless child's life.Thank you.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/03/you-can-help-local-homeless-youth.html
Registration for Mini Meet East meets West 2009 is now open! The event will be in Winona, Minnesota starting the evening of June 29, and going through July 2, 2009. Go to:http://www.minimeet09.org/ click the registration button, and follow the instructions from there.Registration is being done on-line and you can pay on-line by credit card through PayPal (you do not have to join PayPal to do this) or you can pay by check through the mail if you are not comfortable with on-line payments. When you have filled out the registration form click on the PayPal symbol for credit card payment or on the mailbox symbol for payment by check. Either way, you will get a confirmation email listing your choices. If you choose to pay by check, payment details will come with your confirmation email. We're planning a great event with a lot to do this year. Here are the plans:Monday, June 29th is check-in starting at 1:00 PM at the Riverport Hotel. Mini vendors will be present all during the car show. That evening there will be a welcome reception in the hotel's ballroom. A great chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.Tuesday, June 30th is the car show at St. Mary's University followed by the panoramic photo. Tuesday evening we'll be celebrating the Mini's 50th Birthday at the bandshell in the park in Winona with a live band, cake and soft drinks.Wednesday, July 1 is Autocross and Funkhana day at Southeast Tech University. They have a great track for the Autocross and drivers should have a ball. With time constraints, we need to limit spaces in the Autocoss to 150 so be sure to sign up early. Since spaces are limited in the Autocross, we are making that event a la carte for meet registrants. The wacky hijinks of the Funkhana will be held nearby and should provide a great time for all. In between the two venues, there will be vendors setting up shop along with several planned tech sessions. Wednesday evening will be "Cruise Night" at the local drive-in.The Rally will be held on Thursday, July 2, and with all the scenic river bluffs throughout the area, it will prove to be an unforgettable drive in the countryside on some great "Mini" roads. Thursday evening is the awards banquet featuring some great food, fascinating speakers and door prizes.We're looking forward to a great time and hope all of you can come to the meet in Winona, Mini-sota!For those of you interested in checking this out, but maybe not participating as much, we are in need of volunteers. Consider helping us out for this. Check out the dates and let me know.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/mini-meet-09-registration-is-open.html
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http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/bcr-email-list.html
**EDIT**I double-booked, so it's just a UFC night. Bring your fave beer and some snacks and show up around 8:45pm for one of the best fights; GSP vs BJ Penn!You're invited to my place on Saturday the 31st for an informational meeting about the 2009 season that's ahead of us. There probably won't be too much to talk about, but there's a UFC fight that night and I figured it'd be a good ploy to get people over to watch it with me.We can discuss kit options (carry over from '08), team competition, the new race in MNSCS, plans for the BCR Winter Olympics. We can also make for some PS3 time. I'm thinking of making an evening out of it; potluck style dinner, BYOB, winter ride at Leb, team meeting, stay for UFC if interested....Let me know if you can make it or need directions. Feel free to forward this along.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/bcr-2009-planning-meeting.html
You're invited to my place on Saturday the 31st for an informational meeting about the 2009 season that's ahead of us. There probably won't be too much to talk about, but there's a UFC fight that night and I figured it'd be a good ploy to get people over to watch it with me.We can discuss kit options (carry over from '08), team competition, the new race in MNSCS, plans for the BCR Winter Olympics. We can also make for some PS3 time. I'm thinking of making an evening out of it; potluck style dinner, BYOB, winter ride at Leb, team meeting, stay for UFC if interested....Let me know if you can make it or need directions. Feel free to forward this along.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/bcr-2009-planning-meeting.html
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_10.html
Pre-dance warmup
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2009/01/pre-dance-warmup.html
What do you think of the new look?! http://www.mnscs.com/MNSCS Announces Eleven Races for 2009Hillside Park in Elk River is added to the schedule.5/17/2009 Erik's Spring Cup, Inver Grove Heights, MN5/31/2009 Afton Avalanche, Afton Alps, Hastings, MN6/14/2009 Dirt Spanker, MT Du Lac, Duluth, MN6/28/2009 Bluff Riders Charge - Mt Kato, Mankato, MN7/12/2009 Memorial Classic, Red Wing, MN7/26/2009 Hillside Park SingleTrack Attack8/09/2009 Buck Hill Birch Bump, Burnsville, MN8/16/2009 MNSCS/WORS Border Battle, White Tail Ridge - River Falls, WI9/06/2009 Laddie's Loppet Stage Race, Maplelag Resort, Callaway, MN9/13/2009 Powder Monkey, Spirit Mountain, Duluth, MN9/26/2009 Revolution's Single - Track Escape, St Cloud, MNOld news I know, but I'm using it as an excuse to get back to posting here.The biggest news however is the addition of Hillside Park. I've done that race several times, albeit on a smaller scale, and it's fun. The course is tough; Almost all singletrack, hills, and some technical sections that you wouldn't expect at first glance. It will be interesting however, to see how the venue handles the numbers that MNSCS draws to a race. We all know that our numbers pale when compared to WORS, but 250+ at Hillside? Can you say hole-shot? It should be a great event though. The guy putting it on knows how to promote/run an event (and he's fast) so I'm looking forward to good things.It also sounds like the minimum number of races will remain the same.I'm also getting the ski bug. It might due to the fact that I left my gloves and hat at my in-laws and have had to use my ski gloves for everyday use. The thing about them that's weird is they need the ski poles to work. The gloves have a piece of strap that sticks out about 1/2" right between your thumb and pointer fingers. That nub then has a small hole in the end. The poles have no strap for your hand. Instead, there's a pin at the top of the pole and an access slot on the grip for the nub on the glove. You lift the pin, insert the nub and drop the pin into the hole on the nub. Viola! Tighten the integrated wrist strap on the glove and you're good to go skiing.Since I've had to wear these for the last week, my mind has been on skiing. Well, that and the fact that I'm slide-skiing in the parking lot at work whenever I leave/go to the MINI.So - if any of you out there want to go skiing, get in touch with me and let's make something happen.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-schedule-posted.html
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http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/12/toys-for-tots.html
In which I make an attempt to get caught up on past events by adding the words belated and sorry for not posting anything in a long time. Not that you really care....First up - happy belated Thanksgiving. I trust that you ate a ton and had fun with family. Maybe even went for a ride. I didn't.Next up I meant to congratulate our fellow BCR member Dan for having a wildly successful MNSCS season long ago. He managed to score himself a 2nd place finish overall this year and podiumed almsot every race he entered!1 Jeff Colbert North Branch MN 1256 40 1031 13:13:05.42 Dan Inderieden Bloomington MN 1211 44 930 12:09:22.13 Todd Nesvold Forest Lake MN 1295 42 908 12:37:03.8What happened at the races he didn't podium at you ask? He was late. Due to construction or a last minute decision, he managed to comletely miss his start. But still passed people and finished kinda well.Here's Dan at the MNSCS awards ceremony back in November collecting his medal, along with a "podium girl".Well nevermind...I don't have those photos uploaded yet...so instead, enjoy a recap of Dan's season this year.MNSCS#1Cable OffRoad ClassicMNSCS#3MNSCS#6Party FaceMNSCS#10"You can't catch me suckas!"And then he hit the cross racesCongratulations Dan! It's been great having you on BCR over the years (plus, we have access to cheap cabins in WI) and I appreciate the help you've given me with the team and as a riding partner. I look forward to riding and skiing and UFC-watching and beer drinking in the future. Here's to always finding the best lines through the woods and not being late to any races next year.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/12/belated-happy-congratulations.html
You coming over to watch it with me?!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-heart-netflix.html
While the latest temps aren't totally taking a dive just yet, the days are way shorter and my time on the bikes has diminished significantly. Maybe if I had lights that would help....Slowly I'm creeping up in weight and I can feel my fitness taking a nap. I'm currently at 190. While it isn't totally unreasonable, there are parts of me that are starting to show more than they used to, (I'm too tired to try to clean that statement up...) my belly. Pants are starting to get snug.I'm vowing right now to make the effort early on to take care of it. That means:No more cookie dough while watching tvNo more late night snacksTry eating breakfast once in awhileContinue hitting the gymFocus on crunchesAnd start on the trainer soonI figure if I can make an early effort now, it won't be such a difficult endeavor later when it really is cold outside.In the coming months I'll be hosting trainer sessions in the garage once more, where we gather on a weekend morning, set up trainers and ride. There's plenty of smack talk as we pedal to nowhere and sometimes even DVDs to help pass the time. If things work well, there might even be a large screen and projector set up to help pass the time. Who's bringing popcorn?
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/11/head-it-off-now.html
Carlos and Tyson made the 80 mile ride a lot of fun this past Sunday. We opted for an 8am start and already the weather was cooperating. The skies were clear and there was no need for leg or arm warmers. We all made some last minute adjustments to our steeds and got ready to go. Charlotte was out and about helping us set up and even wanted to race me. After a hub adjustment, final tire pressure check, we were ready to go.We decided on using part of Dan's route near Prescott, WI but realized that he started and stopped there. So we made plans to ride to Prescott and then add on the needed mileage to hit our mark. We started down Rich Valley Road through Eagan and Inver Grove until we hit 145th st. There we turned left (into the wind) and meandered into Hastings. The route to Hastings was nice and flat and offered a shoulder. At Hastings we joined up with highway 61 to cross the river. Once across the river we turned on highway 10 and aimed for Prescott. The wind was still around and the road offered some hills, but the scenery more than made up for it. The majority of the leaves are turning and very few trees are still green. The route was fairly quiet traffic-wise.Prescott is a cool little town and I think it'd be fun to walk around and see what the little shops have to offer. Shortly after leaving Prescott we were greeted with a climb. It was pretty long and I felt it in my legs as I probably started a little harder than I should have earlier. The passing car clubs (Studebaker, Miatas, Mercedes) on their fall color drive distracted me enough as I headed for the peak. There were a few big climbs, but otherwise the rest of the route was rolling and afforded some nice views, the river included. It wasn't long before we were close to hitting 40miles. Soon this was going to be Carlos' longest ride. Ever. There was a farm that was at about mile 38 so it was decided we'd continue on to 40, turn around and replenish water and ride the wind home.The staff at HappEHill Farms were wonderfully polite. Several members made sure to strike up a conversation with us and wished us a speedy return. Thanks guys.It was quite the speedy return as the wind had picked up, but was now at our backs. Plus, we got to descend the long-ass climbs. This was fun and I think the fastest recorded mph was 46. We got back to Prescott and stopped for a bit of lunch and ate outside along main street. Very cool place and good food. Getting back on was a bit stiff, but we soon worked out the bugs and were headed back into Hastings. Here the wind wasn't so nice, nor was it while we made our way to Rich Valley Road. But once we hit the home stretch, it was at our backs again and we were able to move along very nicely. Carlos was in all new ride territory now as every mile that ticked over just added to his longest ride ever and he was stoked.Soon we about to make the last turn for home and I heard a yell from just behind me. It was Carlos hitting the 80mile marker on his odometer. Once back home we dismounted and were greeted by Tracy and Charlotte while Carlos broke out the celebratory brews.It was a great ride. No flats, no crashes, no bonks and no traffic issues. We had lots of laughs and several sprints for city signs - with Tyson taking all but one. I had a blast. Carlos is already talking about next year's ride. Maybe a century?? We'll see....Some stats from the ride:Total Distance: 80.19 mi Total Time: 4:42:39Avg Pace: 3.31/miAvg Speed: 17.0mphMax Speed: 48mphTotal Calories: 5310Avg Heart Rate (Carlos): 150bpmMax Heart Rate: 186bpmTotal ascent: 4493ftTotal descent: 4489ftThanks Ty for the pics and Carlos for the GPS readout and stats!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/10/thanks-for-ride.html
I came across this in my interweb surfing and had to share it. I immediately thought of Wiken.http://www.ironicsans.com/2008/09/in_a_political_campaign_far_far_away.html Listening to: Monster Magnet - 19 Witchesvia FoxyTunes
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/10/good-stuff.html
This past weekend was awesome! Why you might ask? Did I do well in some race? Did I manage an epic ride? Au contrare - the weather was cool and sunny, but mostly it was awesome because it was my 6th wedding anniversary and birthday. In that order. All weekend.So in other words, for the most part, it was all about me.First thing Saturday morning we took Charlotte out to Country Sun Farms in Stillwater to hang out with some friends from the adoption community. The kids ran around feeding animals, getting their pictures taken and generally being cute. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day. We took a hayride and then did some pumpkin shopping. Once home Tracy and I hung out while Charlotte napped. Then I started our anniversary dinner. The pictures looked amazing and the recipes sounded easy enough, so I began my work.Spice-Rubbed Rib-Eye Kabobs with Salsa VerdeAsparagus with Sherry-Bacon VinaigretteSmashed Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Glazed WalnutsCharlotte went to bed and our meal was ready. It smelled so good and was fairly easy to make. After dinner and wine we watched our wedding DVD and laughed our assess off! In the morning I awoke to Charlotte giving me a card and bag of candy corn. Then we headed for Alberville for some shopping. There I got some clothes and shoes and Charlotte was a real trooper for all the walking around we did. Charlotte fell asleep eating lunch on the way home and I did some more work on the door of the MINI once we arrived home. We hung out with our neighbor Carlos for a bit - Charlotte has a crush on him I think (competition Scott??!). And then we met Scott and Sue at The Italian Pie shop for dinner. It was a great weekend with family and friends with perfect weather. I'm very happy to be surrounded by such love and friendships. Thank you all!You can see more pictures and Tracy's recap of the weekend over here.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-weekend.html
I thought maybe some of you might find this somewhat interesting - one of our sponsors has been all over the TV of late. Mostly giving insight and opinions regarding the latest going ons of Wallstreet. Who could this sponsor be you might be asking? Those of you who have been on BCR for some time should know. Tracy's brother Kirby, aka The Kirby, has some great insight into the markets of late. Here's his latest appearance on CNN. You can also find him as a regular on CNBCW talking up the Asian markets Sunday evenings.Now if we just get him to sport a BCR jersey under his suit.....
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/09/kirby.html
An article from Wired: Autopiahttp://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/09/for-bikers-ther.htmlMore bicycles on the road means more chances for drivers yakking on cell phones or stuffing McFood in their mouths to hit one, right? Wrong. According to a study by researchers at the University of New South Wales, the number of collisions decreases as the number of bicycles in traffic increases. It sounds like a paradox, they say, but motorists are more likely to drive carefully and respectfully when there are more cyclists on the road."It's a virtuous cycle," says Dr Julie Hatfield. "The likelihood that an individual cyclist will be struck by a motorist falls with increasing rate of bicycling in a community. And the safer cycling is perceived to be, the more people are prepared to cycle."The researchers say studies in several countries have shown the incidence of motorists colliding with cyclists or pedestrians actually declines as more people ride or walk. The reason, they say, is simple -- the more cyclists motorists see, the more aware they are of cyclists in general and more safely they drive. "It's a positive effect but some people are surprised that injury rates don't go up at the same rate of increases in cycling," he says. "It appears that motorists adjust their behavior in the presence of increasing numbers of people bicycling because they expect or experience more people cycling. Also, rising cycling rates mean motorists are more likely to be cyclists, and therefore be more conscious of, and sympathetic towards, cyclists."The findings run counter to conventional thinking, which holds that more cyclists means more chances for collisions. While the numbers do increase in absolute terms, a city that doubles its cycling numbers can expect a one-third drop in the per-cyclist frequency of a crash. When that news gets out, it could create a long-term cyclist friendly cycle: If people perceive biking to be safe, more of them will do it. More cyclists means better motorist behavior and greater likelihood of communities passing bike friendly laws, further proving H.G. Wells was right when he said cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.Photo by Flickr user swankalot. Makes sense to me. Are you getting your friends to ride more? We're pretty fortunate in the fact that we live in a fairly bicycle friendly city. (Although there was that one year when 3 BCR members got hit by cars.)As far as the above picture goes....helmets people!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/09/bike-accidents-decline-as-ridership.html
Tuesday night I hit the road with my neighbor Carlos. The last time we tried to ride he had 2 flats in less than a mile and a 3rd once we got home. This ride happened to go a lot smoother! We were strapped for daylight, so we tried to get a good workout and ride around 35 miles. We decided to head to St. Paul via the river road and hit the path along the river after the University and then hit the river road on the opposite side.The weather was perfect - cool and a slight breeze. Our legs were feeling good and we tried to keep the pace high. There wer LOTS of bikers out. I always get a kick out of seeing others riding. I should start keeping track of how many people wave back to me though. It didn't seem like very many last night. Haters.At one point near the end Carlos mentioned that he was dead, so I tried to ease up a bit when I was up front. Each time that I did that he came around me. I guess he wasn't as dead as he thought. He also managed to catch me off guard on 2 city signs! I'll get my revenge...Here's our route:09/10/2008 RouteFind more Bike Rides in St Paul, United States
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/09/back-on-bike.html
This past weekend's race was the first Border Battle between the hugely succesful WORS and the seemingly tiny MNSCS series.The course was new - Whitetail Ridge in Riverfalls, WI. I wasn't expecting much as I had been on vacation in Door County all week and was no where near racing form. The previous week was spent relaxing near the water, kayaking, wine tasting, drinking beers in the afternoon, bonfires, beers in the evening and eating constantly.Still, I needed the points to be counted in the overall, so I registered. The course was awesome. Mostly singletrack and not that much climbing. It flowed very well and was a nice mix of bumps, elevation changes and some technical spots. There were fields for passing and even giant "PASSING LANE AHEAD" signs. It felt like I was heading up to Lutsen.The weather was perfect - mid 70s and sunny. We did 4 laps and I didn't try to do much due to my vacation condition. Still, I managed to hang with some groups, pass people (in the fields even!) and finish. It wasn't great and I wasn't expecting anything much more, but I did a little better than I thought I would. I managed to not cut anyone off - although I did leave the course due to an accident directly in front of me and I heard someone behind say that I cut the course. Right.Overall the race was awesome. People were mostly friendly on and off the course. One thing that stuck with me as I called out a pass was the comment of "BURN IT! BURN IT!"Right before the start there was someone's tent that went flying due to the wind. Now, normally you'd think that's kinda normal, but this thing was WAY up in the air, maybe 50ft up and it flew across the field the event was in, probably 250ft before crashing down. From where we were it appeared noone got hit as it wasn't your small sleeping tent. It was of the EZ UP Yikes.If you get a chance, point your bike towards River Falls and hit this trail - it's a blast!I'll be skipping Laddie's Loppet this year (sad) so my last race will be in St. Cloud. I'll have to see if I can work off the extra 5 or 6 pounds I accrued from vacation to do well at the Jail Trail.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/border-battle-recap.html
Here's mine so far:
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/hows-your-week-going.html
We'll be spending the next week on vacation in Door County, WI. We're staying with some friends we met while in China. Their daughter Lily and Charlotte will have all sorts of time to play and hang out. One whole week of doing nuthin! I'm excited. Of course, when we get back there's the Border Battle to attend to....
Updates will be sparce while I'm gone. Have a good week everyone!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/were-almost-off.html
It doesn't appear to be on TV, but if you don't mind watching from the computer or you have your monitor hooked up to your TV, then this link is for you.The date is Saturday the 23rd at frickin' 2:00am. I do believe the online coverage will be playable after the original air time. I've watched several events online and I have to say, I'm impressed. I have had no drops and hiccups. Some sports have announcers, some don't. Enjoy!!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/olympic-mountain-bike-coverage.html
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/im-going-mo-bile.html
The day was perfect. Mid seventies, clear skies, light breeze. Sadly, I wasn't feeling in the mood to race. All weekend it was like I forgot that I had to race come Sunday. Even as I was packing the MINI, there just wasn't any excitement or nervousness. We arrived and I got registered, thinking that would help me out. Nope.During a warmup with Dan my legs were feeling tired just cruising on the road so I didn't think much was going to happen for me. And it didn't. I managed my lowest finish of the series this year. 14th age, 36th overall.The course was pretty fun. I didn't think so during the race and after, but as I look back on it now, I did enjoy it. There wasn't a ton of climbing and the rest was twisty singletrack. With some sandboxes thrown in. There were several passes across the ski hill and there were some good sized boxes of sand for us to contend. Fortunately my high psi Taurine managed to cut through the sand and I often made up time or passed people floundering in the sand. I think it helped that once I said "BRAAP BRAAP!" While it wasn't my best race to date, I did learn from it and had fun. Dan managed his first non-podium race of the year - SHAME! We had lots of cheerleaders: Neil, Dave, Tracy, Charlotte, Scott and Sue and my in-laws were able to make it out and hand out water, clap and yell for us - thanks you guys!The next race is the border battle on the 24th and I'm sure I won't do well there as we'll be in Door County, WI the entire week prior to the race. And I probably won't have Dan to chase down as it sounds like he'll be at his cabin that weekend. I'll post some pictures soon....
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/metric-auto-parts-birchwood-bump-at.html
I love the course that the COGGS crew have created in Duluth. It's tough. It's tiring. And it's beautiful. The terrain varies from rocks to roots to large patches of slick-rock. Then you're tossed out onto the ski hill for a split second before heading back into the woods where you'll encounter boulders, downed trees, log bridges, some wicked descents and some tight twisty trails. My weekend started with our arrival in Duluth on Saturday. Due to weddings, there was no pre-riding on the race course, so I headed up to Piedmont where some new trail had been added. I was especially excited to ride the new trail as it covered some terrain that I grew up riding on my Bridgestone MB-1 way back in '91/'92. The Piedmont trail system was just like I imagined - the race course with grand vistas. The trail has several angles of attacks and offers terrain for every skill level. Parts of the course wander out of the woods and make you stop and pause so as to take in the wonderful views. At least twice I stopped and looked around for about 5 minutes as I overlooked the Bay and Lake Superior, or the neighborhoods just below my feet, or Enger Tower just to my left. It was spectacular. In total I think the trails amount to about 11 miles of riding. I rode almost all of what was available was very impressed. The maps are good at guiding you around and the names of the trails are pretty cool too - Scarface, for example.Sunday rolls around and we head to the race. David was racing the Sport race so we made sure to see him off. The weather was clear, warm and sunny. The course seemed to be similar to previous races, but with a small amount of single-track added. David was rockin' the single-speed and helmet cam (very cool!) and seemed to be having a good time. After his race Dan showed up and we readied ourselves for the race. We rode the first climb and some early single-track, then hit the road and sprinted a bit. When we arrived at the start, it was already packed (not cool). We hit the group about midpack and waited for the start.We were off and running. I managed to make some passes right out of the gates and across the hill. Instead of going all the way across the hill again and then up, we went across half-way and then went straight up the rest of the way. As usual there was a bottle-neck at the single-track entrance. So much in fact that I think people had a foot down while they waited. I made a choice and got "out of line" and filled a gap entering the single-track. I got lots of negative responses for this but kept going regardless. Again the Cannondale is such a fabulous ride in the technical stuff. It's so light and responsive that I can make just the smallest of weight shifts or slightest amount of input and change direction or correct for a poor line choice. Amazing. We rocked the single-track and my brake was howling as usual. I passed a couple riders as they put a foot down or crashed. I managed to close a couple gaps when needed and felt rock solid in the woods. Probably the most challenging part of the course is a part where we drop in to a dried up creek bed which is rocky and has a steep entrance. I managed to navigate that with great ease this year, thanks to Avid's Juicy brakes - wow. Such response and control. Fabulous. We made our way to the bottom via some new trail and a couple reroutes. On our way back up we hit a trail that was full of rocks, roots and steep climbing. On the way up I managed to stay on the bike while others were walking. Normally this is cool. Unless one of those guys walking decides to heckle you and not give way. After a couple minutes of conversation regarding me "...being an asshole.." lap 1 is complete. The 2nd lap is an abbreviated version of the first. Initially I was bummed to hear this, but now at the start of lap 2, I was happy. I could feel myself getting tired as I hit the single-track at the top of the hill. I set my sights on a rider in front of me and tried to catch up. I yo-yo'd a bit and eventually rode with him for a bit. Then we hit the part where we bypass the lower portion of the lap. We're almost done and ride a dirt road for about .5 or so before hitting the woods again near the finish. The road portion killed me. The last section before the finish hurt and I managed to cross the line in 8th in age, 20th overall. I was pretty happy with the race. The weather was great, I saw Charlotte cheering for me and managed to not crash on some of the most technical trails in the series. It was kinda hot for our race, but most of all it was fun. COGGS and crew always do a great job of adding trail and they have some really cool t-shirts. I only wish I would have gotten one.Afterwards, it turns out that Dan bested his streak of 3rd place finishes and grabbed 2nd in his age group!! Nice work Dan.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/08/powder-monkey-recap.html
Tracy had an appointment until later in the evening, so I didn't get out to ride right away. Instead, Charlotte and I ate dinner at Ikea (meatballs, lasagna, garlic toast, masshed potatoes, and veggies - yum!) and then we played with all the toys, jumped on beds, opened and closed drawers many times and ran through the warehouse potion. It was good clean fun - and we didn't care who was watching!Once home, I gave Ty a call to see where he and Dan were riding. Turns out they were kinda close to my place, so I donned the BCR kit (Scott, why do I still have yours?!) and they pulled up.We did a couple repeats of Lone Oak Rd, before wandering around in Eagan. Then we made our way to Fort Snelling and Dan and I said goodby to Ty. Dan and I then dropped down along the river and popped up at the airport. I took 494 home and Dan headed off to keep riding until 11pm I'm sure.I didn't get out for much, but it felt good. The pace was high at times and the two Lone Oak trips were pretty hard core.I'm hoping to get ready for the Powder Monkey this weekend. However, I don't think I'll be able to ride until Saturday, when I'm in Duluth. I'll be checking out some new trails in Piedmont.My goal at the PM is to be near the front when we enter the singletrack. The first climb is a killer though and I'm cautious to hang at the front for fear of blowing up midrace. However, to get into the singletrack early would be a huge time saver....but then again, making good time up climbs is also a time saver....so who knows....All this talk about racing - now I have to poop.You can register for the race HERE.Old PM pics.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/quick-ride-last-night.html
If you were to ask me to describe previous races at Red Wing with single words, here's what you'd get:HOTHUMIDSUNNYHOTFASTAMBULANCEHUMIDTypically it feels as if it's 95 degrees and 95% humidity at this race. There seems to always be an ambulance run and there's very little shade if you're spectating. And it's hot. It's always been a challenge for me. This year however, the day brought a kinder, gentler temperature range and made it very tolerable.This day I dragged Lalla along since he was skipping the stage race in St. Cloud, so I figured I'd have someone to ride with for a bit (Lalla, remember the St. Cloud race a couple years back?!) - even as he was sporting his new road shoes and pedals on the Specialized. Red Wing got a bit of rain prior to race day and the trail was tacky for the morning racers. However, as my start time got closer the trail seemed to dry up nicely and looked to be offering up some trail conditions.I told myself that I was going to make a point to be at the line early so I could get a spot closer to the front. If you know me, you know that I typically start near the back, so this was kind of new territory for me. I've tried it a couple times before and quickly blew up to fade through the field like a stone in water. But this is a new me. This is a new bike. And change is good.Right?Lalla and I were next to each other as the Experts charged from the line. Immediately there was a crash and a small group of guys went down. Hard. Trace got some good pictures:Can you spot who's about to go down??And he's back up!After I saw the hurt rider get up and continue I applauded and tried to shake off any flashbacks to my crash at the start of the Spring Cup.The announcer tells us that we'll be doing 3 laps and that there are a coule re-routes to watch for.15 secondsGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (he literally said it for that long)I had a great start and made some passes right away to be in the top 12 as we made our way around the field towards the entrance of the singletrack. Once we got to the entrance, I cut inside and made my way around a couple more people as we hit the trail. My rear brake was already going mad (earlier a mechanic from The Route sprayed some cleaner on it and it was queit!).Once in the single-track the pace was good. We were moving along nicely and I was staying on the wheel of the person in front of me. In several cases I had to slow down and I think my brake was annoying the guy in front of me. Things seemed to be moving nicely. So far starting closer to the front didn't feel so bad.If you haven't raced at Red Wing, I'll tell you that there's a nice mix of double-track and single-track. in fact, there's quite a bit of the double-track, so if you get stuck behind someone in the woods, you can hold out for the next wider section to step around him. Well, that's where I need some work, because every time I hit the double-track I felt like I just had two flats. I didn't always lose a spot, but a couple times I did. I don't know if it's cuz it's straight and non-technical or what, but I just seem to go slower in double-track. I can't explain it.After the first lap I was still feeling good and the trail was treating me great. I was able to gap the person behind me and make up time in the single-track. One change I enjoyed was the new entrance to the quarry. It starts the same, but then turns back up the hill before you go under the bridge for more single-track, before dropping you back into the original trail into the quarry. Lots of people and cameras on hand to witness the falls and close calls. Being so low and tree covered, lots of the rocks were slick and I heard lots of people go down. The climb out of the quarry was the same as last year and caused me to walk it the first time. I tried to keep drinking water and took a couple shots of my CarbBOOM flask in the hopes to keep my position. As the race went on I was still making some passes and occassionally got passed. But I felt much better than my last attempt at starting up near the front. On the last lap I bobbled the last climb (the long loose-rock Stairway to Heaven) and had to walk. That lost me two spots. As I started to close in on the finish I could hear a rider approaching and tried to floor it so as to avoid a sprint. No good. I saw his wheel on my right side and heard him shift. I shifted once and stood up and we were haulin'. Just as I start to pull ahead I think to myself, "the finish line should be..." and then his wheel is gone, and I'm locking up as I'm overshooting the line and have to turn around to go finish behind him. LOL. All in all I had a great time. I felt pretty good most of the race and am still amazed at how the Taurine handles single-track. Dropping into the quarry and bouncing off the rocks was a blast - must have been my high tire pressure :D I finished with my best result of the season so far and am both nervous and looking forward to the Powder Monkey next weekend. I love that course and would like to do really well, but that first climb is scaring the crap out of me....but that's another post I guess. Thanks Trace and Lalla for the water and pictures. Charlotte was cheering for me even!Thanks to everyone who made the race happen. It was a great day and the course was wonderful. Even if it needed to be a couple changes working together, I'm learning that change IS good.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/change-is-good.html
create a free poll on pollsb.comYou can click the picture for a gargantuan size if you need to.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/create-free-poll-on-pollsb.html
Click here to register for the Memorial Race this weekend.Time is running out to get preregistered.I'll be there along with Lalla who's coming for moral support and beer hand-ups.View Larger Map
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/get-your-registration-on.html
I had planned on hooking up with the ride out of Penn Cycle by my place, but I got a call from Ty and we hooked up at Minnehaha Falls. My trip TO the falls was fantastic. I was riding some big gears due to the tailwind and the passing cars along 13 weren't going by me nearly as fast as usual. It felt good. Once I started crossing the Mendota bridge, reality hit and my legs didn't feel quite as strong as I had hoped.Ty showed up at the Depot and we got on our way. We dropped down by Fort Snelling and popped up on Post Rd. Took that to the airport and crossed 494. The wind was a pain at times, but it felt good to be working hard.I grabbed the first city sign as we entered Eagan on 494; 1-0Once at the top we headed left and made our way towards St. Paul on hwy 13. This stretch was nice as it was with the wind. Tyson continues to amaze on the bike. Even after a hard climb, he has power to keep it going afterwards. I'll call it his "Over the Top" />On the decent into Mendota, Ty grabbed the next city sign. 1-1. Nicely done. My weight on the downhill wasn't enough to catch him. I kept the pace high through town with my sights set on the next city sign - which happens to be two. I could see Ty's shadow catching me as we neared the end of town. I thought for sure he'd come around me, but then he faded and I took the two signs. 3-1Next we climbed up to the park. By now my legs were feeling tired - exactly what I need to work on, so I tried to keep the pace up. I managed to grab the St. Paul sign as we entered the park: 4-1After the park, we turned and headed towards Lalla's old place, which was also part of the GP ride. We turned right and headed for Eagan. Along the way Ty snuck in an attack for the Eagan sign: 4-2 Well played.At Lone Oak and Pilot Knob we split and headed for home. It was a great ride with some good efforts up the climbs and a couple short sprints. Needless to say I slept great last night. Thanks for the ride Ty!
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/wednesday-night-ride.html
....get in the mood for the new season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/instead-of-riding.html
View Larger Map
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/watch-tour.html
Something I threw together from the latest race.
MNSCS#4 - Bluff Rider's Charge from Adam Emanoff on Vimeo.
http://trackingthegrizz.blogspot.com/2008/07/mnscs4-video.html
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