Alpine Shop Dirt Crit #3

More racers and more spectators is always good to see. So is the free stuff, Smartwool Socks, RedBull, Fisher Demo Bikes(for the first time all the bikes were used), and food. As Pfood puts it "this is turning into a Happy Hour". And in the rain for half of the race made things a little slick. I hit the deck in my 4th lap and in the process twisted my front derailleur. Bob came past me as I was kicking it straight so it would clear the crank arm and let me pedal. When I jumped back on I quickly found out it won't shift any more so I was stuck in the middle ring. Oh well, just pedal faster I guess. Soms pictures here.

The best bike ever is almost available!

If what they say is true I will have one of these under me in August.

What a Weekend

Reminds me of my early days of racing with Sam Moore finding 2 races in a weekend. With Sam we drove to NC for the Knobscorcher then drove through the night to Springfield, MO for the OMBA Caramba. These were also the days that a certin KS boy was still playing in the dirt, Steve Tilford.

This weekend the drive was not as far but I did have to go to work after Saturdays race. The first race was the MO State Mtn Bike at Castlewood. This race kind of popped in the schedule with little warning and the trails they were using were not in the best of shape to ride fast on. James, Matt, and gang gave the trail some much needed love and after 100 racers beat in a smooth line the Blue Ribbon trail is alive again.

Then Sunday was the drive to Springfield, MO for the OMBA Caramba on the SAC River trails part of the Midwest Fat Tire Series. And once again some KS heavy hitters show up Cam Chambers, Shad Schreiner, Aaron Elwell, and Tim Kakouris. These boys would make it a close race until some bad luck happened to Aaron's pedal fell off and Cam had a flat tire, this left me chasing Shad. Both would fix their issues and still finished respectively. The weather was also in our favor with the sun shining as our race started and word from home was pouring rain.

The final results were me winning my 4th state title against a very strong and hungry Dave Breslin, and a 2nd place increasing my lead in the points siries.

Thursday night Dirt Crit #2

Its Thursday

my bad habit of july

too much tv

Here we go again?

Another first race in something other than bikes. Even if the plan is only to finish the Worlds Longest Non Stop River Race before the cut off.

Missouri River 340 Race Kansas City to St. Charles in a canoe.

A coworker, Andy, asked me if I would be interested in this when his original teammate was traveling too much to train for it. We will need a support crew on land to follow us, any volunteers?

New Boat

I wont be doing that again...

for a while.

My first experience in adventure racing was probably not a prime location but fun to see how things pan out.

Mountain biking on the road is not a whole lot of fun and running for 1 is not fun and running in a big loop on the road in 95 degrees makes it less fun. Going into this thing I was scared of the running, lucky me Jeff was hurting which made him run a nice comfortable pace for me. We probably ran about 10 miles in total, the furthest I have ever run in my life.

This race seemed more like a triathlon only paddling a canoe instead of swimming and multiple challenges.

We held together as a team well and finished 4th place in some 6:30 hours. I'm sore, tired and dehydrated but still thinking of doing the St. Joe mountain bike race tomorrow.

I finally did it

You should paddle that log

What am I getting myself into?

I've gotten to know the Alpine Shop adventure team members, mostly Jeff and Carrie Sona, and had to open my mouth and say if they ever needed a fill in to talk to me. They found an opportunity and took me up on it for next weekend. I'm not a runner at all or a navigator but I will go the distance and hopefully make up for my weakness on the bike.

Today they met me out at Creve Coeur for about an hour of paddling in a canoe followed by a bike ride out to Weldon Springs Louis and Clark Trail for about an hour of running. This hurt me, by the time we got near the end of the 5 mile loop my legs were not happy. Back on the bike it took a while for my legs to come around but some how I pulled it together and found some power again. This is one of the hardest things I've done and only half the distance the race is going to be. I hope I don't let them down!

City of Highland, IL

Goomna

Sponsors	Sponsors
Ouantum Solutions	Lucco Financial Partners, LLC
The Korte Company	E.L. Flanagan's
The Alpine Shop

Date: Saturday, June 21st Time: 9:00 am Teams: 3-person Co-ed teams Fee: $180/team Starting location: Korte Recreation Center, #1 Nagel Drive This adventure race includes disciplines such as urban trekking, mountain biking, trail running, canoeing, orienteering and other surprises. Only 30 teams are admitted so don't delay. For more information call Director of Parks and Recreation at 651-1386

Just when things are going well

I've had a head cold for about a week now. It hasn't slowed me down much, I still got out to ride on all the nice dry days we've had. Then Tuesday night it moved into my ear. I thought I would sleep it off, then it woke me in the middle of the night. The pain from so much congestion in my head and now ears was so intense I had to make a trip to the ER. Now I find out my little head cold is a severe sinus infection that that moved into my ears and eyes. It clogged my head so much I have stuff coming out of every hole in my head. My eardrum ruptured, I have pink eye, and can't breath. Fun stuff!

Oh, I almost forgot all 3 of my vehicles broke down with in the last 2 weeks. The truck has engine sludge, the wagon's transmission, and the scoot's battery. Whats next?

The Aftermath. Let the rebuilding begin

My bb, headset, and rear wheel bearings seized and my brake pads are annihilated.

Industry Nine free hub

Head set and wheel bearings after soaking in the parts washer.

BB after soaking in the parts washer, the left cup is still seized up.

Brake pads are done.

Good Clean Fun

Midwest Fat Tire Championship Series

More pictures.
I was on the fence for this race with one foot out the door in the morning, but looking for some one to talk some sense into me. It rained all day on Saturday then turned to snow over night. When I got up in the morning it didn't look like the 3-5" they predicted but I still packed up and hit the road.

Not the typical spring foliage for these parts on the drive to Council Bluff Lake. This was closer to the weather prediction. Now is it really going to clear up and be 50.

The marathon and beginner class got to start with snow on the trail, by the time we started the sun was out and melting thing fast. We started with about a mile of pavement before the single track, not so good when you only have one gear. Dave lead into the woods and I was about 5th when Matthews cut me off after almost passing the turn into it. Immediately we were covered in mud, skiing down hill. Once on the lake loop the ground was hard with water running down the trail and about 10 creek crossings that seemed to be 2' deep raging rivers. I was stuck behind these guys until the boat ramp then settled into my own pace. Dave was out of sight already.

After the boat ram the trail became mostly dry and fast, weird. I caught my first glimpse of Dave going into the spillway about 30 seconds up. It was hard to tell how fast we were going but I was breathing hard and it felt good. I was slowly closing the gap and thought I caught him on the big steep hill until he ran over the top. This put him out of sight until the Enough boat ramp. I got on his wheel up the gravel road climb. We jockeyed every time each of us made a mistake, then he took the lead up the pavement and through the start finish. I wanted to negotiate not doing the second lap and this is the answer I got. Head down hammering up the hill!

This lap we were together and the trail was getting rutted and deeper water. He went big ring through the beach sucking down some food. Almost got the wrapper in the trash can at full speed. I passed before the spillway and started to get a gap. I wasn't until the big steep hill that we were back head to head in a walking race. Some how I got over the top and out of sight and now my legs are locking and have no power left. I think I had to walk up every steep hill from here to the end.

After the race every one who entered had some good stories everything from I had no brakes to I thing some one was throwing snowballs in the woods. Dwayne took the endurance with 3 laps, John Matthews continued his perfect season and with his Rig. Then it was off the Potosi with the Seagal boys for some grub.

I Lost a Sale

I was about to pack up and head home from a ride at the Wood when I saw Larry Merli in the parking lot waiting for John. Since I wasn't satisfied with my ride I rode with these two for their ride. We were riding through the narrows when John gave me this line "If you rode up that, I would go out tomorrow and buy a 29er." That would be the hill in the middle with the cables at the top. Too bad I only make it every once in a while and today was not the day.

Just a Walk in the Park

I got out this morning for an easy ride on the Al Foster before the storms come in. I'm still tired from the racing but itching to get get out and ride in the good weather. The Rim Wrecker is Sunday I hope this rain doesn't turn it into last years race.

You Never Know Till They Say Go

Midwest Fat Tire Championship Series #1 Lost Valley

Why did I want to race expert with one gear? That's what I heard allot. I figure I have this cool bike that is not available to everyone, why not. Lost Valley was probably not the ideal place for 1 gear so I went in with the attitude of just hang on. I rode out there twice with a 36x19 and thought it was good but had in the back of my head I could go one harder. Matt Keeven was racing in the same race so I figured I would match the seasoned veterans gear. I found him before I went out to warm up and had to pry it out of him but he was the one gear harder. Thanks to Bob for letting me borrow his Boon I switched to 36x18 in the parking lot.

Now after the race I think I should have kept the 19 on. The barely had the strength to drive it over the top of the hills in the last lap. If Matt wouldn't have had a flat I think he would have had me, or would he? If I didn't have the 18 I might not have been able to hold off Aaron for the finish. So I still don't know but I have a better idea.

The most important thing is I had a lot of fun today. I was happy to see as many come over from KC as there were including Cam Chambers. That and nice weather made for big fields. I wish the start was a mass start, I might not have been by myself for as long as I was. The new single track was awesome even though it suck the life out of you and the rain made things just a little slick. Thanks to all that put this race on.

Look Out For That.....

Tree!

Some race pace Lost Valley recon left John walking back to his car. Somehow John, Wes, and Bob all piled up and everyone was unscathed. The sound of his frame snapping was as erie as heading pedals grinding on pavement. Even the weld of the down tube and bottom bracket is cracked most of the way through. Amazing no one was hurt.

So Thats How It Feels

Now I remember how it feels to go for long mountain bike ride. I was already planning on racing for 6 hours so why not ride that go long even though the race was postponed. Not quite the same pace as I would raced instead it was a very spirited group ride faster than I would ride by myself. Dwayne, Mike, Doug, Mitch and friend, and Nate.

The plan was to ride from Berryman to Council Bluff around the lake and back. Or if your Dwayne ride Berryman before everyone else gets there to ride. This put us on the south section of the Courtois through Trace Creek Campground and the north section of Trace Creek.

Soft earth slowed us down big time so we had to turn around at the Counclil Bluff connector trail. The trail was in good shape not many trees to climb over, just the typical sticks and leaves.

The group slowly broke up when some cried uncle and turned around. It was perfect we all had someone to ride with even when it broke up. Everyone who rode got at least 3:30 hard earned hours in.

Looks like I might have this stuff earlier than expected!

Ride a bike thats better than yours...for free!

Click the poster for the fine print.

New Toys

First ride on the Fly SS was awesome. Now I just need to find the legs this bike deserves!

I forgot to add the obligatory bike porn:

Brain Washing

Tony Horton has this theory and repeats it over and over in his P90X work outs.
"Do your best and forget the rest."
That is stuck in my head kind of like my take on hills...
"Ride 'em till you like 'em."

The Rumers are True

I scored a spot on the Gary Fisher 29er Crew along with Dwayne Goscinski. The crew website will be updated soon and hopefully I will see my new stuff by April.

Bell Mountain

Last year I had this idea of hiking the Ozark Trail to see the damage from the reservoir breach. Wes and I hiked for a long time, only to find out we were on the wrong side of the hill. This year we dragged BLM with us and hiked the northern part and the Bell Wilderness loop.

Thanks to Janell for dropping us off at Hwy N we were able to hike through to the parked car at the other end. The first few miles were uneventful. Once we were on Goggins Mtn the terrain started getting steep and either softball size rocks that roll on every step or big knee high stair step rocks or mud that would swallow your whole foot.

The views from the top made all the climbs worth it. The more this area I explore, I still find amazing we have a back county with in 2 hours of St. Louis.

We hiked until we were delirious and finally agreed on a spot to camp, 7 hours later and 12 miles, 2600 ft elevation gain.

We had just enough daylight to set up camp and cook some grub. Once it was dark we were beat and cold, hitting the sack at 7:00. I didn't sleep well and hear all kinds of weird noises off in the dark. Nothing came to visit us in camp probably from all the snoring that Brenden was doing. At one point I heard his snore echo, it was that loud. I also hear either coyotes or wild hogs a couple of times. The sun finally came up and I was the first one up. I was happy to find our food untouched but all our water was froze almost solid. Everyone got up and we ate bruffus packed up and continued on.

Now we are on the Bell Mtn loop, in 7 or 8 miles we gained 1100 feet. Big hills for flat Missouri! Near the summit of Bell we started seeing these weird tracks in the mud like someone was walking with out shoes on.
This picture is not that good but if you can make it out it is bigger than my fist. This next picture you can see it walked straight down the trail, whats with all these lazy animals.
The top of Bell had some great views and a Kodak moment.
Next time I head out here I want to hike the entire Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail in 3 days. I still have not been through Johnson Shut Ins to see the flood damage.

Hard Water

Had the day off today and tried to bo goatin only to find ice across the river. So here are a few pic from last weeks float on the Bourbeuse River.

Back on Track

I had some sort of bug for a couple of days that made my body ache and no appetite. I lost 7 lbs in three days from not eating. 3 days of absolutely no exercise and a ton of sleep and I'm feeling better. Today I made it half way through P90x and 30 minutes of pedaling, trying to ease back into it.

Oh, and welcome my nephew Derrick Lee Brooks, Jan 7 2009, into this world!

Bike Paths and Quiet Roads

That's what I rode today. Speeds were slow, heart rate was low, and the legs feel good.

Where am I?

This one should be easy.

Lance's Comeback

http://www.elizabethkreutz.com/main.php

Lance is looking ripped!

Cross-Ocalypse at Valley Park

I should have supported Rich, ICCC, and the city I live in Valley Park by participating in the cross race yesterday but, I felt like riding my mtn bike. So JM and I headed out to Council Bluff for a nice ride in the woods. We Parked at the trail head for Middle Fork, DD and 32, rode the OT to the connector then a loop of the lake. 2 hours of pure ss awesomeness! Firm ground, little to no mud, and only a few trees down on the connector. For all those we invited to come along and bailed, you missed the best ride ever.

Today started my second week of P90X, I think I did 100 push ups and 100 pull ups all different ways. My fingers feel heavy typing this right now.

Start the year off right!

It's not the same with out George but we tried anyway, thanks to Mitch for sharing the picture. No pyrotechnics either? I did get a fun ride in the Geezers toy, it was something like this.

Now its time to start getting ready for a good year of competitive mtn bike racing. Last year I tried to follow the P90X program and failed. For this year I sold one bowflex and bought another, and added the power tower to my home gym. Yes, I can do 10 pull ups now! Bike riding is short, easy, not every day, and not always outdoors.