Riding Through Life: PUGSLEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2.26.11 RECAP

The winner's take! A Stripper's Dream!

Well the Pugsley World Championships 2011 are in the bag and they were all that they were suppose to be, A Mad Dash from Cresco to Decorah via Snowmobile Trails and Gravel for the Cash.

The day started off pretty much as was expected. Started the drive over to Cresco at 9:00 a.m. for the race start at 10:30. This drive would give a taste of what the day was going to be like as the snow was coming down in very big flakes and heavy and wouldn't stop until I decided to leave the bar just under 12 hours later.

Arrived at the start to the sight of Spinner tooling around on his Pugsley riding the snow piles and sliding on the ice. Again, what was to come. Looking around as everyone arrived, started to get the butterflies as I realized that this was going to be a much harder race than originally expected. Shockey was in attendance, as well as Charly Tri, Hollywood, Ezra (Surly Guy) and about 10 others ready to tackle the challenge. After a brief pre race meeting with our fearless leader Spinner and we headed to the end of the drive to toe the line. I will have to say it was one of the coolest lines I have ever seen as the snow really started falling right when we took to the task!

Start- Out strong picked up the pace instantly to get a separation at the beginning. Hit the snowmobile trail in second behind Shockey and it was on!

The Race- Well after about a mile or so of the ice crusted, fast rolling snowmobile trails I decided to ramp it up and moved into the lead and pushed the pace what I could without sliding out in the corners on the ice. That would be the challenge of the day staying upright on the bike while sliding sideways and getting bounced around like a pinball.

The status quo really didn't change much over the next 6 miles as we jockeyed for position changing leaders multiple times throughout the opening 8 miles. Wasn't till a open icy field right before the big walking climb that I realized that the race had blow up and it was down to 5 competitors (Shockey, Hollywood, Tri, Ezra, and Myself). Got to the walking climb and all walked up conversing about how much the climb sucked covered in ice. Once on top it was on like donkey kong!! Pace ramped up here as I pushed it and we hits some tricky sections of trail with lots of ice, ruts and deeper, non crusty snow.

Midway- As we neared the Prairie Farmer Trail, Hollywood helped me to the realization that it was down to 3 (Tri, Hollywood, and Myself). With this realization we jumped in formation and off we headed to Ridgeway in a good pace line. Only real mishaps over the next three miles would be me failing to get fully around a downed tree and wiping out the entorouge and causing us to take inventory and keep moving on to Ridgeway.

Checkpoint and on- Well once we got our bling, bling put on by the checkpoint officials (Those that like to drink!) It was to some of the hardest riding of the day. The next three miles of Prairie Farmer would be covered in lots of drifts that were hard as a rock and lots of falling for me. Through it all, Ezra had managed to claw out of no where (RIDE OF THE DAY!!!!) on the Big Dummy Pug and the lead was 4 again! I hung on and hit Townline Rd. with the group and from here on out it was paceline formation with 4 FatTires! Strangest sight you might ever see!!! Throughout the next 8 miles we would again jockey for position and keep that pace HI.

The Break- Well I knew that something had to happen if there was to be any breaking up the lead group of four to help with the fight for the finish. After crossing Hwy. 9 to head down Dry Run Rd. I attacked. Pushed it up the gentle incline to open up a gap going down the hill only to be rejoined by the group at the bottom. Well it put enough strain that on the next hill I went again and Tri got separated. Pushing down the hill towards Twin Springs, Hollywood kept the pace up by making sure to push me and push himself. Ezra the Semi was still with us holding strong. We got to the cut and again it was on. This last section would be absolute Hell as it was very rutted from foot traffic and a good climb. I stated up it only to get off and decide the best was to run as fast as I could to the top. I stayed in front up the hill and caught a glimpse of Hollywood dropping pressure causing me to sprint even harder knowing that there was a downhill, driveway, road crossing, and hill to the Bar and $500 dollars. I took off down the hill from the cut like I stole something throwing caution out the window and did enough to come up to Spinner with about a 5 second lead over Hollywood and hold it to the bar for the win!!

Overall it was a great race, lots of fun with some great folks. Props to the Spinner (Race Director) for putting on the race, Friedolf for putting money up to make all of Spinner's dreams come true, and the Oaks for allowing all of us bicycle miscreants to drink, party and play reindeer games in the parking lot! Also, hats off to those that took the challenge especially my mates up front that pushed me and eachother to the finish in some good wholesome racing.

Ride of the Day: Ezra for pushing the Big Dummy Pug to the finishline for 3rd/4th.

Happy to get the win and the cash! Trophy is wicked cool as well and is on my wall in my living room right now!!! Hopefully a sign of what is to come this season. Enjoy the photos!