Where the heck have I been!!!!!

You may be asking yourself what I have been up to since I last posted in the middle of the summer.  To say the least, LOTS!!!!!  I have been very busy since the last post of the Tough Mudder  so lets go to it.

Ore To Shore
The Ore to Shore held in Marquette, MI was a race that was just that a race.  The day couldn't have been any nicer with full sun and mid 60's for the start.  The race in overview is a road race on dirt though!  I went to the race not prepared for the lack of elevation change and thus was geared way to low for such a flat and wide open course.  The course consisted of flat open double track roads, about 6 miles of highway and very little singletrack.  The course was very much dry as a bone as we entered the first of the double track after a 2 mile roll out on highway to a cloud of dust.  I was barely able to see more than 5 feet in front of my wheel just hoping that no suprises jumped out at me. I was able to stick with the group and gradually move forward thru the packs.  I was able to hook onto a group of gearies just in time to paceline down the long highway section in to the double track that lead to the 10 mile downhill to the finish.  This was about the only entertaining part of the day for me as being a singletrack rider, I was able to blast away from my group mates and pick off people one by one all the way to the finish. I ended up 5th Singlespeed Overall/44 and 122 Overall Males/674 which was a little disappointing as payout was to three.  Oh well can't change the past.  Don't think this will be a race that I return to being's it was a road race on dirt and I live for SINGLETRACK!!!!

Dakota 5-0 Trip
This may be the highlight of the year for me.  I was able to travel out to Spearfish,SD to the Blackhills.  I traveled across the massive flatlands of SD not knowing what to expect when I got to Spearfish, but oh was I in for a great surprise.  Having left on Friday, I was going with the hope of a mini-vacation of sorts being the race was on Sunday.  As I got closer to Spearfish, the terrain changed from the flat expanses that I saw for 500 miles and gradually went towards the sky.  Great sight to see as the excitement grew in side of me.
Vacation:  I was able to make stops while out in Spearfish that had nothing to do with the race and more for the enjoyment while I was there.  Pictures speak better than words.

Devil's Tower, WI
Aww inspiring with the many climbers that were scattered across this great National Landmark!!!

Mt. Rushmore
Never been and always wanted to see.  What a great way to spend Memorial Weekend at this National Treasure!!

Mt. Rushmore at Night
Even more Amazing!!!

Campsite for the weekend.  Simple but oh so good!

Well pulled into Spearfish latter than I wanted but got camp set up on Friday in the dark and to bed it was.  Saturday brought unbelievably cold temps in the morning close to freezing that opened up in the day to mid to upper 70's.
The day temps rising to comfort level led a great pre-ride.  I quickly found out that this race was going to be better than any I have done before.  I was able to ride the first 10 miles of the course and it was all uphill.  Met up with some Minnesotans on course and followed them around after reaching the top after 10 miles of climbing.  I didn't mean to but ended up pre-riding way to much of the course approx. 20 miles of the course.  Oh well, way to nice of singletrack to care.

Entrance to Singletrack

Opening Climb- 10 miles long!!

Race Day:  The race day came with an early wake up at 5:30 in the morning to head to the wonderful coffee shop that I had found in town the day before.  Got there to be greeted by a large Mocha and a wonderful Bagel Sandwich. Just what the doctor ordered for my pre-race breakfast.  I was at the start 10 mins. before the 7a.m. start.  I was in quite relaxed in the starting line up as I stood ready to go after a good warm-up. Gun off and we took off on a nice easy pace out of town.  Once we hit the old abandoned restaurant it was on like Donkey Kong!!!   Off the leaders went and I began the long opening climb.

Aid Station #2- Moving good still!!

I was able to climb fairly well picking people off as my gearing was spot on for this type of climbing.  It was lucky to be climbing with the eventual women's leader Kim Eppen.  She moved along fairly well but finally I got to the point where it was time to move on and with the a large group off I went to find other Singlespeeder's.  I was moving very well thru the first 20 miles thru the first 2 aid stations.  Just might be the best single track I have ridden outside of Decorah of course, but the altitude change is way better than Decorah.  Just when I though I may be in for a great finish 25 miles in CRAMP!!!  I had straight leg cramps that led me to lay down on the side of the trail.  I had doubts I would be able to get up but finally I got up thru the pain and began to walk.  From here on out I would walk any incline that was would cause me to have to stand out of the pedals.  It was going to be a long 25 miles!!!  Got thru the next two aid stations to be greeted by the Bacon Station.  Just before this was the greatest view of the race unfortunately it was behind us, I was lucky enough to view this the previous day.  Bacon never sitting well with my stomach and cramps leaving me to skip the PBR I went on and push myself forward.  I was getting glimpses of Kim Eppen and that was enough motivation to push me harder as I didn't want any women in front of me at the finish.  After a long double track climb it was to the last 10 miles down which to say the least was flowtastic!!!!!  I have never riden such smooth singletrack, other than up it at the start of the race, reminding me much of the Luge back home.  Onto the gravel I spotted Tim Ek in his green jersey and I begain to spin faster than I thought I could.  Darting in and out of traffic, nearly getting taken out on 3 seperate occasions by the cars that were traveling up the gravel road I spun to the finish and a 5th Overall Singlespeed/ 57 and 28th Overall/544.  Definately the high light of my year and a must do race for as many years as I can spin a crank!!!

Finally the Finish!!

Single's Podium- Congrats Brian 3rd Place

Decorah Night Shift Race

Starting Line!!!

This is a must every year as it is home and no travel is required.  This year was the year I hoped that I would be able to take the win and finish the Decorah Triple Crown having already won the PWC and Time Trials.  I was able to pre-ride the course a couple times in the week and to say it plainly, it left much to be desired.  I was not impressed by the trail chooses this year and I can say this having offered my take on a pretty challenging course. The evening of the race brought the traditional pre-race meeting at City Hall and then it was off for the roll to the start.  We would start going up Quarry Hill and then into the trails at the Van Pennen Entrance. Sitting at the line I was ready for the hell that was about to take place up Quarry Hill.  GO!!! Off we went jumping into a pace line up the hill being led by one gear and Shively and I following.  As we moved to the gravel it was Shively and I taking the lead and never looking back. We entered the singletrack and led the first section.  As we moved to the prairie Shively felt we were letting up so he jumped ahead and picked it up and I could do nothing but go with. Thru the pines and first part of Little Big Horn it was the statues quo as I followed waiting for my moment.

My moment came up Tombstone climb when I jumped off early and ran up past Josh to take the lead.  Thinking I had made a great move to enter Dustbowl I pushed it harder.  That was my mistake as I went down the switchbacks ready to enter DustBowl, SURPRISE!!!  Course change and we were going down horsey. I crashed into the tape thinking we were going down Dustbowl, Josh shot past and I was pissed off now!! There is one thing I can't stand about certain people setting up courses and that is the fact that they change the course without informing anyone!!!! 

Well I was PISSED and shot down Horsey only to discover that Josh had overshot the entrance to IPTV.  I shot the corner hard and into the lead.  It was on IPTV that my fortune changed and Josh caught a pedal and I was able to open up the winning gap. With about a min. lead from here on out I did what I must to stay a head riding like I stole something and taking caution not to blow it down Rocky Road.  Ended up 1st Overall in a time just over 42 mins. which was the disappointing part as I wanted to break 40 mins.  Josh 2nd and he proved once again that he is someone to constantly worry about.  Overall I was satisfied with the race but I still feel there is so much potential that will never be reached in this race unless there is a change at the top!!!

Iceman Cometh

Stuck behind wonderful riders!!

Up to Traverse City I went on this first weekend in November.  I chose to take my sidekick along for this great adventure of 600 miles.  The ride up was fairly uneventful other than getting stuck in 2 hour traffic back up going through Chicago and Gary, IN Lived and learned as I would bypass both on the way home.  Arrived in Traverse, checked in at the race, and checked in to the hotel. TravelLodge was quite nice for the price, right on the bay and a great place to stay. I came to the race ready for the flat geography that I had read on the internet.  Geared very high I was ready to go off in wave 25 of 44 as I was unable to get a prefered wave given I had never done this race before.  Not exactly pleased with this, but what can you do.  The race overall consisted of wide open double track with very few sections of singletrack.  I have never passed so many people in a race though!!!  I must have passed near a 1000 riders as I moved my way along the trail. I was able to hang with the top 3 single's of my wave for most of the race but lost contact after getting trapped behind what must have been roadies in some singletrack.  If you can't ride singletrack don't dart in front of somebody before it!!!!  I was quite unsatisfied with this race as I lost lots of time sitting at a standstill behind line after line of novice folks crashing on smooth singletrack.  Finished just a hair over 2:00 and was not very pleased.  The race is great if you like no challenge but definately not going back to this one.  Singletrack is was better and more fun!!  Don't know my results as the race still doesn't have them posted on their website a week later! WOW!

Finish Line Finally!!

Other than Racing

Well other than racing life has been the same old, same old.  I was able to start the new school year fairly smoothly as I was much more prepared this year.  I have started and finished my fall session of Driver's Ed. with 23 more crazy driver's ready to hit the road!!  I have done a little dabbling in cooking throughout the fall trying to save some money by making instead of buying. 

Most recent adventure was this weekend as I was given free tickets to the Iowa vs. Michigan State Football game at Kinnick by John Carlson.  This was by far the best gift I have gotten and I am indebted to John. Travels to Kinnick with Dad, Erik and Jill.  Game was far from satisfying as the Hawks went down 37-21. I have never seen such a ridiculous game as far as frustrating as I watched State player after player go down with supposed injuries.  It was hillarious to see these morons fake injuries and the crowd get more and more pissed and irrate.  Hopefully the BigTen will review this game as far as officiating and coaching and lay down some new guidelines because this game was full of mistakes.  Hawks played like crap though and didn't deserve the win no matter what the ref's or MSU did that was messed up!! 

Well that is life in a nut shell over the past 4 month's. I am looking to keep this blog up to date much better this year.  I will be posting my schedule soon as I try and line up where my new adventure's will take me.  NUE is on tap for this year with lots of travelling.  Also hope to keep updated on my training and what is going on around here as far as life in general. All for now. Get out and ride!!