Saturday....in the park....

I think it was the 29th of September...okay, so the lyrics were a bit different. Saturday morning - almost October - dark outside....6 am....why the heck am I putting on my cycling clothes? Well for starters....it's biking. Add in that it was 62 deg at my house at 630 am, the breeze was warm at about 20 mph from the south, riding through the park is amazing this time of the year and friends were waiting at trailhead for a ride. I really suck at making my camera work well while moving - it seems that my older - less technical camera worked better. Oh well, the park was amazing this morning.

Out again on the single speed - 42x15 - cannondale. This gear seems to work well for me - good on the rollers and if I can sustain 130+ rpms - I can hang on the fast parts. 7 or 8 this morning???? was that right? Well, we heading out Dayton River road and then out to 144 - did some loop that is by Walgreen's and then back home on the rollers to the shop. Hemi and I traded off the front all morning - despite the wind - we had a great workout. I got handed second place on super prime after pulling Tom all the way up and across to have him pull past within the last 50 ft. Good job Tom.

Back to the shop and off again - for me...I headed home. I was shot. Totally dehydrated and already cramped up and exceptionally sore. I realized that I had not had enough water AT ALL in the last few days and it caught up with me today. Lesson learned.

Great morning for a ride -


Andy

TNT - Thursday Night 20

What a great night to be on the bike! Now with Headwaters being over with....where did everyone go? My days are numbered with scouts kicking off with the boys and everything else that goes on with school...taking advantage of the daylight was tough. Had to cut the route short as the sun hit the tree tops. However Jeff and I spun out to Rogers and back on 144 and made pretty good time. The route didnt allow for much talk time as it was rush hour. Too bad all the traffic is about us out there - I bet even 10 years ago it was a wide open road...maybe even less than that.

So now its onto commute in the winter time mode...cold, dark, cold and then home in the dark. With all the locals joining the RAAM team for next year - our group has much to work towards. We seem to gel very well and are always helpful - now...its even more. You guys/gals are going to do GREAT - you have some great RAAM vets to help.

A few goals for me this winter - stay active on the bike, commute to work when I can and stay off the trainer. I am saying to myself that the trainer belongs to my dear wife as her bike will be more or less glued to the thing - just fine with me. just give me a sled and throw the kids in and head up and down the road - talk about max heart rate.

There is NO reason to not ride this winter. Riding in a snow storm is like riding in a Salvador Dali painting...almost hypnotic. The rat bike is now the winter rat bike and I will have to get that new single speed if it kills me....actually a single mt bike and a real single roadie.

well, thats it for me...have a great night and see you on the road.


zuko

had to share - love the pic.

If you are at all interested in some
custom artwork on your bike - I'z got da skillz....lol.

Minnesota Alps...

l' Ramsey d'Huez

Tuesday night ride... so Neil posts this thing about riding in the park...then the park and ride - a newer 4 story parking lot in Ramsey. Don't laugh - if you have never done this - you will be amazed. Anyhoo - back to the ride...At TH 6 of us head out for 2 laps in the park. Spin they say and the inevitable happens...blasting through the park. I led out for the first 6 miles I am guessing and then we traded off and on until finishing the first lap. It seemed as if the temp dipped about 10 deg and with the winter shadows upon us - we headed for lap 2...spin they say and we took off again. Now by the time we came by the only switch back in Hennepin county, the sun was touching the tops of the brilliant orange trees...lifting up past Bernie's house the look back was remarkable as the sun had lit the sky with the most magical reds.

Back to the lot - and yes that Brooklyn Park sign did count - and loaded up the bikes in Neils chariot to trek up nort to da Alps of Minnesota.... l' Ramsey d' Huez. This is really cool. A full lap up down, around to the start is .7 miles. It is a continuous course and wide open. When the snow starts to fall, you can eliminate the top loop no problem. It is a strength course - all hills and yes...it is PERFECT for a single speed - you have no time to shift anyway.

We did 7 loops at a pretty decent effort and I think we set a benchmark at something like 2min 30 sec...was that right? I pushed it on that timed lap a bit and came in at 2 min 18 sec. So now its like a ss course - how many laps in an hour....two hours.....3 hours??????

This winter will be fun - say goodbye to the Folydrome and hello to l' Ramsey d' Huez.

Saturday chill

First time on a ride with some substance since Cheq. With my new found busy-ness at work - its okay. I didnt have time to even think about it. Getting out the door seemed to be the problem - running late and not sure who is going to be there as most are up doing Headwaters. I hop in the Jedi-Knight and blast all the way to Trailhead to hang with the crew. As I about loose control around the back lot, the lone rider is in view - Jay...bless your heart. That red Bianchi is visible from a mile away. So where is Erik these days?

It was a bit chilly this morning...not as bad as mid 20's during Cheq. Man that was cold. So Jay and I head out west for a 35 mile loop - I ended up having to use the race ready wheels on my ss cannondolly. I burned out the hubs - they were crap anyway - on the old set after riding 60 in the rain. So the Mavic set up was nice - 42x15 and it was realllllly
nice to ride a light bike again.
Jay and I did a nice easy ride with a few interval workouts on the rollers of 144...then we traversed super prime and I have no idea who crossed first. It was such a nice morning to ride that I didn't even notice the signs.

Later today I ended up going to a MTB TT course we have set up - do it yourself tt. It is a great course - exactly like the birkie rollers. The Rat Bike made the trek out - after tightening the following - headset, pedals, brake levers, seat post...wow - cheq did a number on the bits and parts...it was kinda like a mechanical bull for 3 hours...but on a bike seat.

Well - thank you Jay for the ride and conversation - glad you figured out how that computer works and oh, congrats on surpassing your millage goal - you still have many days to ride this year!!!!!!

my kids are the best...

Yeah, if you have them - kids I mean - you can appreciate this. So I was going through Cheq pics and Skinny ski pics - no luck in finding any with me in them...actually - I think there was one where I saw a Giant hat brim flipped up...thats it. Okay - back to the kids... My daughter was with me looking for the ol' man. She sits up on my lap with her nose about 2 inches from the screen and says..."they have all these people in here but no picture of the winner." So, I go to the pic of Jesse on the podium and I said "that man is the winner."

"No, dad, I mean they dont have any pictures of you..."

I will say that NO podium finish could ever mean as much as what my daughter said to me this evening. I guess what they said in school about winning not always meaning coming in first place was really true.

So this evening - I was putting on the slicks on my rat bike...they are old slicks that are a pain to put on...I remembered the last time I tried to put them on...I broke 2 composite tire levers...I did the same tonight and decided to throw the tires out...if they were going to be that much trouble in the garage with a few beers...then it was really going to suck on the side of the road without the beers...off with the tires.

wow, another reason to go to the shop and buy more crap...but fun crap.

Cheq 40 - first time...

First Time At the Fat Tire...
2:59:26 single speed rigid - 29lbs
This was perhaps the funnest thing I have done in a long time - and I didn't even loose my keys...I did loose my water bottles though...many did. I did get to stay with Bryan L of the Loons and some mutual friends of ours...nice digs and super cheap...we had a full out rib/chicken diner on sat...fun was had by all.

Cheq40...No idea what to expect - NONE - and my steed was 29 pounds +, full steel...not the best, and lots of ambition...and a cool paint job. the lead out was fast. I didn't have a computer but I would guess it was mid 20's easy for 3 miles to Rosey's field....hit the grass and keep on going. the sucky thing was that you need the keep momentum high on the ss. if the pack slows in front of you - you are walking up even an easy hill....right away at rosey's field...walk. i was upset.

Then onto the trail/road/trail/etc....I liked the roads...i was moving quick. I do know that I was at 25 on most of the roads - i was geared for it more and everyone seemed to have a computer - which was nice. I lost places on every downhill - and gained on the hills...I was really glad I rode my ss on the road a lot. it taught me to ramp up the speed prior to a hill...it really worked out in Cheq. I dismounted 7 times - that's it. Yes I did count. I was amazed at how easy it was to climb some of the hills ( yes some were not easy at all). it goes back to the mind set of know you have no option along with the fact that you don't want to get off the bike in front of everyone. with 55 psi on the tires and steel suspension - I had a tough time navigating the descents. I was scared really. I had no control - bouncing all over the place while full and hardtails with front suspensions were cruzin by. If I get the chance to ride this again - I will do single but a lighter bike with calculated tire pres...for sure...oh, if I am doing rigid suspension again - carbon front fork.

So fire tower hill was cool - it was packed though. no speed to carry into it - walked most of it. if you could maintain some speed on a single - i wonder if it would be possible to climb....did Jesse LeLonde climb without a dismount?????anyone know????that guy is amazing - his set up was full rigid 29er, carbon front fork, 36x16....with 180 mm cranks....that is 65 gear inches...holy crap! I heard he finished alone too and his brother Marko was 4th...I saw Tilford after the race as he was talking with my bud Pete - and he wasn't happy with 3rd...especially when 1st was a single speed....lol.

So I finished in the middle of the SS pack and 600 something overall. The best part was coming into the shoot to only hear Neil, Jay and the LOon crew cheering me on to beat my goal. I had tears in my eyes when I looked up crossing the finish line. I couldnt believe it - I really didn't believe it at first...Then right in front of me was my buddy Pete Taylor who saw me come in and he gave me a big hug as it was his time last year that I wanted to beat. He knew it and was so excited. It is neat that after starting biking together back in middle school that we had a chance to share that moment.

Kudo's to the Loon crew - you know who you are. you made me feel like a million bucks when I actually felt like a pile of broken bits. Next year????? Single???? you bet - just not the one i rode this weekend. The rat bike needs to retire to a winter pasture or training roll. if the money is there....Rita.....if not then i would settle for Redline Monocog.

I did show up at Telemark for the crit race - Doug Swanson took it in 5 laps....I was glad to see this - Ezra lasted until the last lap...on it road geared ss full rigid... Here is a link to a vid I took on my camera of lap one of the crit. Cable Crit Lap One Vid...lap one only.

the new pics...

okay - so I had a lot of time on my hands....New overhaul on the rear hub - new axle, bearings etc...new paint job. That's right...too much time on my hands. I really dont think it is all that bad but like tatoos...how do you know when to stop. so, I will be riding this clown bike on Cheq. I was out riding the mt bike trails tonight - one last spin and it felt GREAT...my legs I mean...the bike was bouncing all over the place without suspension. It was chilly, and took a while to get warmed up but worth it tonight. Next blog - pics from the north-land... so at least I will turn heads for a sec or two on the race...again - to pass up a series of riders on voodoo $4000 bikes is going to be nice...Have a great weekend all - I hope to have some pics by sunday.


andy - zuko

should be OFS...oops
I like this one


Metal fleck paint is nice


The specter of death...

deep purple....

A special thanks to Larry and Pam at Trailhead. I think I speak for every two wheeled freak when I say thank you. YOu have been so accomodating to our dreams and desires. which reminds me - I need to put a pink ribbon on the bike somewhere....to the guys that have kept this Frankensteined bike rolling - Mason, James, Dan, Stew, Matt...not Clint though - thanks.

Cycling Frenzy...

So - at the shop last night to get the wheel...not done. It's cool - no big deal. These guys are busy. I would try myself to rebuild the hub but would rather have Stew or Mason take care of it. I can get it apart and semi-back together....after that, it requires a touch and experience I just dont have. So, instead I opted to paint more on the bike...I forgot my camera at work...this is really getting out of hand...between the flames of red and blue and green - all using a touch up brush so it kinda sucks - I have turned my bike into a rolling grafiti machine. It will turn some heads for sure...Tonight I will clear coat the artwork a bit and call it quits. I can easily spend too much time on this - its in my nature. Seeing that my wife would kill me if I got tatoos, I tatoo my bike instead.

As I am working away - the Duke rolls in to buy a bike for his wife to ride this weekend...Then Kenny the Cook drops by with his bike...the frenzy is on - the last min tweeking. I HAVE TO get out tonight to spin a bit...this taking a few days off is needed but tough to do - it really is. My only concern is some sort of a technical - what can go wrong really? Single speed....lets see - break the chain - got a back up....pop a tire - got a spare....break pedals - go with one leg....break my body - get a beer.

It is much more the experience but I have some goals - being accountable here....here is what they are... 1. finish under 3 hours 2.finish under 2.5 hours ( big goal ) 3. top 100????? well, ya gotta have a big monster goal - the hero goal. 4. meet greg lemond 5. pay up that beer to creepy friendly. 6. cross the line knowing it hurt and i put it all out on the trail.

That's it - pics tonight of the grafiti rat.


zuko

pieces of flare...

one last trip to the shop - to clear up any issues on the bike....found a shot rear hub. Well, I hope it isnt too bad - i only have one other good hub on the wifes bike - XT but its old...fingers crossed. So while i was tearing the bike apart - and I am realistic here, it is an old bike - the crew at the shop pulled out some touch up paint and then I got a bit creative...pics will follow...

look for the specter of death on the front fork...the rat on fire...the burning bottom bracket and the gold metal fleck headset....soon to be added - trailhead green accents...

It wont be the required 15 pieces of flare but what the heck...its art.


zuko...

Spinalicious

Seeing that I am looking at 60 some degrees and a brilliant blue sky - had to spin the park. Seeing that Fat4-0 is just 6 days away, I took the SS ATX out with a 38x18 added. Trying to get a feel for what will be best...I got lost in the day. My goal is to guess what will be a good gear to spin out for 40 miles...on a trail. How the hell am I supposed to figure that out with limited experience?

I guess this will be the "get tin my learn on" in the SS world. Well, if you had a chance to ride on Sunday - you had the best weather of all time. Plus, I only got yelled at twice for riding the horse trails - and then I hit some really fresh horse dung. I like how easy the 38x18 was...i could run just about any hill out there just fine. 38x16 was pretty tight the last time I rode it...but then I was shot when I did it. I will most certainly take out a 38x17 tomorrow. I just have to tear apart another cassette. My guess is on the 38x17...it is really amazing how you can tell the difference between one tooth.

Got a new melon cap for my daughter and wife - big sale at the shop...cages, stem, gear, tires....i can really be happy with spending too much there. We all can.

Looking forward to Friday and the trip up to 4-0. I shall enjoy this - with all my heart. My legs will have a different story to tell.


Zuko -

The Steed....

New treads, fancy spacers, shinny ss cog, toe clips are not what i am using...i will touch up the rat pic and the advertisement for Trailhead...and then Fat Tire...