has it really been two years....

since i had one of these on my bike? maybe just under two years then but still - I now have 14 gears ready for this weekend - so lets see...shimano rear and crank, Campy front derail with suntour shifters and fsa wheels that trump the value of the bike - cost wise.

I pick up the Colnago Monocog tomorrow from Osell's. Should be interesting. Terry said it looked great and with the markings of a champion - I will finally own a part of cycling history - the first Colnago SS 29er. After work - blast to Osells then drop down to Lacrosse for a weekend of biking. Have a great weekend on the EC deal.


Andrew

Motor pacing with Bernie

thats right - not much else needs to be said here. power.

good group, lots of speed, various re-grouping and no one left behind. the route was to be Rockford and back...had to change it up in Hanover and make it a Neilorator...getting to Hanover was the blast off section - leaving Fletcher at 27 mph - making the turn and holding 24 and it was Bernie, me, mellisa and Larry. We stayed alone until Hanover and maintained between 24-27 all the way. the last 1/2 mile i dropped off the back and recovered....bernie kept on the front the whole way. impressive.

waited for the other group - flat - and headed to St.Michael and Burgerburgermeister took that prime with ease and i had no more gears - 2nd. Headed then to the crow river and county sign prime - i passed Burger and held off Hemi for that win...a compliment from Hemi for a job well done was like finishing top ten at Cheq...that must have been enough for me to want to sit up...then the rollers. hit it hard with bernie and mellissa then JayT bridged and they took off fast - i spun around to check for two riders back and we wheeled in together with JayT.

moderate rain - hot and muggy and freaking fast. my hats off to Bernie for winning that banana thing...he was on a mission. so for me it was 28 miles of commute for work and 40 plus on the ride...good day for sure....i am sure i missed some highlights - like the group that had the flat apparently had a visitor explaining how to catch a bear and they were also offered beer. dang.

ac

God's Country Route this weekend...all big hills..

my route this weekend will be this. This was an old training route made to hit as many hills as possible. Once near Viroqua - it is flat as you are on top of the bluffs - getting there is a different story - Neil, you would love it. should be a fun ride and of course ending the ride on county FO is not fun - its like 3 ramsey hills put together in one long knee bending climb. cant wait.

ac

mistakes turned to memories

Sounds more dramatic than it really is of course.

Well, it started with having to leave work early to get the kids to then drive the airport to pick up Tina's parents - bring them home....maybe sneak in a ride. Whatever - like Murphy's Law was going to let me ride (Tina had to go to work, I had taxi duty - no ride.) So, we head to the airport - no issues. Clean and fast and amazing. Once there - we rolled up right when they walked out of baggage claim - no calls. Murphy was no where to be seen...to bad I didnt see him hiding on the roof of the van.

Once we left the terminal - headed the wrong way...going west instead of northeast to Crosstown. Okay, turn around and then catch the correct means to get home....missed that one too and headed into Eagen and thought to myself "what the frick did I just do?" Big sigh....while my father in law is laughing next to me. So - up 35E into St.Paul which ended up being perfect b/c Tina's mom is from the neighborhood near the Cathedral - so we are all happy until father in law says "lets go to White Castle...." So to Lexington and University we go and I timidly force 2 sliders into my mouth and swallow - had to plug my nose. My kids never had White Castle - for good reasons - Tina and I hate that place. They are now converts.

So - to end this right my in-laws agreed to let me go to Cedar and 6th to visit Freewheel.....they stock the Sidi buckles for my broken shoes. They have a lot of things most places just dont carry. I was impressed. I was wasting time while the family was in the van. Where I parked the van, my family could see me walking up and down the lanes - I had to leave...Fifty bucks later.

We head back home to some Wii, coffee with parents and me realizing that I didnt evenly fertilize my yard so I have streaks...Murphy had the last laugh in my mistakes to memories event. That jerk.

So here I sit listening to some oldies....

hills

Going to LaCrosse, WI to see the parents....taking the family with but I plan to basically ride my heart out down there. If the mt bike is back in time - I will ss the single tracks. If not - I will 6 speed the hills in the area. Either way a work out and a half. I will also pick up the new Bluedog jersey - for Cheq - in LaCrosse.

Ratatouli

With the ss 29er in the shop....i took the rat bike out for a spin. Holy CRAP...I am amazed at how painful it was to ride that thing. I literally hurt in many places just going the first 5 miles. I am seriously surprised that I made it through the 40 miles at cheq on that thing.

This year should be MUCH more comfortable- - much more comfortable indeed!!!!!


ac

a treat

with the single speed mt bike pulled apart for phase two of the metamorphosis - I headed out for a tool around the park on my cannondolly. i was flyin really - i have been riding a mt bike for 2 months and not the road that much - I was happy with the speed - really happy. Then I called Neil and headed over to his house for a premium and some chat time...thanks for the great lemonade.

headed home in the dark - got stopped by the local authorities of Champlain for no lights - lol. He said and I quote..." well, you seem to know what you are doing on this thing [bike], i guess i dont have to tell you that it's pretty "f-ing..." stupid to ride city streets in the dark - now go home."

so i did.

20 plus miles - quality speed - feel great

andy

Frogman

Headed into the park for 2 hours on the single speed dirt bike. Got caught in some interesting rain and in my haste to make it to the cover of the canopy of trees on the trail - i ran over a frog on the paved trail...it was nasty.

question of cost and availability...

Anyone out there know how much it costs to prep and repaint a frame and fork? Where do I go? any hints out there????? I was toying with the idea of doing it myself but.....confidence is a big thing that I dont have regarding this topic. How long does it take?

andy

Custom Colnago....

more to follow...Colnago's first ever SS 29er.... name? the Fonzerelli....

no more spin in my legs

Headed out for a quick on/off road spin in the park last night....made it to the southern end and ran into Jorge and Joe going clockwise. Jorge looking stylish as always. I spun around on the 29er (36x17) and proceeded to do the outside loop with the guys. I am not sure how fast we were going but I do know that i sounded like a semi-trailer with bad tires humming louder than I could talk. Jorge said it was a cool down ride - maybe for him but for me I was maxed - pegged and otherwise really pushin hard. I should be glad - it was a GREAT workout to peg it like that. Jorge - you are always the gentelman. thanks for letting me tag along. When I headed out for that ride I really didnt want to go - i had enough to do at home prior to the weekend but as fate would allow - good friends, great weather and a bike - a combination one could enjoy for a lifetime.

Bummer...wait not really

Reading Neil's anonymous poster on his most recent blog "was I the banana" I was reminded of the closing of summer - the hints anyway. Darker sooner...where did the time go. I know as for myself, this year has panned out to be a lack of showing on the group rides, lack of miles on the bike (despite my goal to max the miles) and once again fitness showing up when its time to go inside.

I finally feel about 80% of what I wanted - nothing special compared to the many amazing cyclists I get to spend time with on the road but I feel better, less winded over the long haul, having fun on the bike - loving the single speed of course....so what now? Where does this leave me and the countless others? Well - I guess - no wait - I know I MUST ride this winter in ways I have not before. What I hate is the general swing of body weight and the fight to reduce when spring rolls around. I know, trainer, skiing yada yada...but seriously, why dont I move to Arizona? I bet those folks bike a bunch more year round down south....oh yeah - the 120 deg heat....thats why.

So as the only monumental event in biking for me approaches in Hayward ...I am eager to peek the best I can....to beat my time, to hang with friends, enjoy some of the best views around - ahhhh some of the core reasons I love to bike....friends. Sorry I have not been around much this year and thanks for being there when I was - it was not an easy year.

Enjoy the day and my sappy blog....


ac

ps. hey Neil - the official decals are on their way and I have to come up with a goofy Italian model name - any hints?

Duke

Riding with Jay

That's right - hit the trails with Jay this evening as he re-Stansed his no-tubes this fine day. Had some issues with leakage and got in some single track with Jet. I am a sissy on single track...well I can blame it also on riding the single stuff with a massive road type gear. I was not planing on single track.

After the brief shot dodging trees - and I hit a few with my head, hands and knees, Jay and I headed out to the MTB TT and around on the northern lights trail and back on the horse trails here and there.

I am not sure if that big hill we climbed on was on that trail but it was much more fun going down that thing. The only dismounts today were on the single track.

Good ride - heck GREAT ride and even better friends. Can you ask for more?

Thanks for the ride Jay - good to see that Orbea slinging dirt again and I think we have your new finish line photo pose that will certainly compete with Jorge's various styles...who's gonna beat the Duke?

gnasty

Yup - about 1 million bugs tonight on the ride...in my eyes, crawling up my nose, down the shirt....good ride however.

61.4

Have been riding the 29er a LOT and it is a blast. Took the 36x17 (61.4 gear inch) 29er out on the EC trails to test the gear inch on the slower trails. Suprised myself with the ability to hold this gear for 2 hours on trails - if you have ridden cheq and EC horse trails - you know that the EC trails are a bit more accute - less speed but it mimics the climbs. I should be just fine on the 17t cog. Last year i lost my water bottles in the first 10 miles with the rough hills....the camalpack should help with this. I will also ride at 30 psi or just under. It is amazing how much you notice 2 psi here or there.

I am excited b/c I will be staying with some old high school friends friday night and then my buddy Pete Taylor at his cabin on Sat night and will do a low intensity single track race on Sunday - it might be just a ride - not sure.

Looks like I will be trying to head to LaCrosse for a 12 hour single track team event mid august....should be interesting.

Thats it.

Andy

To Monticello and Back

How many showed up - I dont think these pics show all.

Big group - warm day with strong head winds from the west. That means one thing....to Monticello and back. That stretch of 10 miles from Monti to Otsego was a BLAST! I could not pedal fast enough - wore out with only a 42 chainring on the front....I will leave the story to Neil but I will spoil the story with the pic above....yes the crowned champion of said BANANA!

had to add a teaspoon of effort

Who woulda believed it? - Jens Voigt and Raul Alcala
joined us on the ride today

Fun Ride - Perfect Weather - Great Group!

The advertised ride was 100 miles....and from my home to the shop - the ride and super prime and back home I had 95 miles.....so I finished 100 by heading back out Hwy 144 for 2.5miles and back to get my Hundo. 85 deg, NO wind, rolling hills, severe tan lines reinforced.

Neil had this weird - go figure - thing going on as he was emulating the color commentary of a sports announcer...I think he said his name was Richard Johnson " covering the highlights of the Big Banana Race series...." Well, if it wasnt the sports announcer, it would have been Neil Karaoke for 5+ hours...actually - we did 95 miles in under 5.5 hours didnt we?

Sign racing was in effect - super prime....Mark C. Hemmi and I had a few in there...Not sure about who else was in on them. I do know for sure that I was running out of steam at mile 80....despite the electrolyte pills and food - thank GOD I had them - I was not doing my best. It was a good reminder as to how difficult Cheq will be.

GREAT DAY, GOOD PEOPLE...Fast Big Banana TEmpo!

one hump or two?

got a camel pack today from the shop...they are kinda cool. I had visions of last year loosing water bottles at cheq 10 miles into the race...and then finding some on the side of the trail and using them. the backpack thingy will work great.

easy rider

Had about 2 hours to kill before my family would turn and kill me....anyone else have that same kind of story? yeah, its the curse of having a desire. Anyhoo - where else can you kill an hour or two and still have a great ride, work-out etc.... Elm Creek. Close enough, far enough and as we all know it can be tough enough.

Did the Claflin loop starting at the north end horse camp - to the swim pond on trails...back up on trails with a double mtb TT and a run through the single track course. I did opt to not take the mud trail - and gut the WUSS brand from Rotach...I figured I didnt want to deal with the alien bugs from hell. It was nice. I did intervals the entire time - one mile hard, 1/2 mile easy...on the trails even the easy isnt easy cuz one gear means easy is faster.

It was perfect - great night and then got home to finish arranging the crap in my garage, fixed Maria's bike, Peter's bike and two neighbor kids bikes...one was a complete tune up...I should open a dirt bike shop. It was fun to see them ride off glad that the bike worked again. I was told that three more kids will be by tomorrow for brake and wheel alignment issues. funny.

After which, I went to a neighbors house where he just put in a pond and my kids were fishing for bullheads and crayfish in that pond - it was a blast.

ac

spiiiinnnnnnnn

well - i am waiting for my computer to defrag, waiting for help desk to allow me to get my network drives going - i read through an old post from Pre-Cheq last year....when I was looking for a gear to use. I ended up using a 38x17 on my 26" bike....58.1 gear inch. This year on a 29" - I have a 36x18 (2:1) and it is 58.0 Gear Inch. I have a 17t rear cog that would warrent me like 4 more gear inches. That is my goal - to get into that gear for this years Cheq. What I need to do is calculate my ability to carry the speed on each hill. The hills in Elm Creek mimic Cheq BUT Cheq hills tend to me smoother - less ripped apart so a bigger gear ( speed) might be fine if I can get a clear shot up the hills. As most know - getting bogged down behind a group can stop your ability to climb without a dismount.



So, I give the 36x18 this week for riding then will switch to the 17t and fire it up. I have some big goals for Cheq - beat 2:59 - which is what I did last year....2. beat it by 20 mins 3. to finish without numb hands/fingers.... 4. to somehow finish 2.5 hours 5. if i think of any other monster goal - i will let you know....like top100....LOL - that would be funny. I think the only way that would happen is if the group ahead of me all run into trees and break their bikes or they all get flats or something like that.

out