Big Ring Classic Recap

This race always makes me ask the question, "If you don't have a big ring is it still the Big Ring Classic?"  I guess I just big ring it all the time?  I wasn't really sure what was going to happen this race.  I know I always say that but, I was very tired going into last weekend.  It was the end of my 2nd build month and I had been on the road.  I also rode pretty hard at Rhinelander on Wednesday and Wausau on Thursday.  So on Friday I said Eff it and just took Friday and Saturday off.  I also got at least 12 hours of sleep on Saturday.  Along with plenty of Chocolate cake from wonderful Wifes B-day.  We had an awesome weekend up north at the cabin, then made the drive down to wausau.  I signed up for the races and then warmed up 15 minutes.  I then went and supported my girls in the kids race.  It was my oldest's 4th race and my yougest's first.  They both semed to have fun and got their stickers and medals.  Then it was time for my race.  I spent my time during the introductions warming up on the kids race track and wishing I could just do their race.  Then I was lucky enough to get a call up and I lined up right next to Dan Wierzba who is leading my age group.  Don said go and I hit it really hard.  I must have really went hard because I settled in on Dans wheel and had to back it off.  I felt pretty good and let Dan lead through the first couple of corners, I honestly wasn't even sure which way the lead out went.  Dan looked a little uncomfortable with the pace and when some other guys started to pass us I went with them.  I was third or fourth into the singletrack and was right with the leaders on the start up the gravel climb.  Around this time I reached down for my bottle and realized it was gone, oh eff I am screwed it was hot.  Almost at the same time I see #18 Ben Senkerik walking down the trail with a broken bike.  I shouted out got an extra bottle and he hands one over.  What a classy move I looked around for him after the race but, couldn't find him to say thanks.  So back to the race.  The top 8 or 10 guys set a brutal pace up the gravel climb and I slid backwards.  I thought uh oh thinking this was how the race was going to go.  But, I just kept up as hard a pace as I could and kept everyone in sight.  I rode up the big Hill by Ho chi Minh with #1904 Sam Weinberg on a single speed.  It was good thing he was on a single speed because he would have destroyed me on a geared bike.  On the gravel climb on the back end of the course I ended up passing most of those guys and never looked back.  It was kind of nice being out front not dealing with too much lap traffic.  Sam and I ended up battling back and forth for most of the rest of the race.  I put in a big attack on the long downhill and got a decent gap on him which he got back by the end of the singletrack.  I still managed to enter the last lap by myself.  I was starting to fall apart by that point and I got passed by a few people.  I ended up racing next to someone at the end but, they didn't want to contest the finish so I ended up with eight overall and second in age.   My best result ever,  I guess I shouldn't be suprised I tend to do well at wausau.   Thanks to my Bike hub/Specialized team mates for the handups, couldn't have done it without em.  So now I am not sure what I am doing next? I might not do another WORs race until Kewauskum. Maybe some TOAD? Maybe somebody will talk me into something? See ya Outside...

Memorial Day was the first annual Lakeshore Tech College Crit.  Hopefully it won't be its last.  It was a really nice challenging course and really wasn't a Crit.  I think it was more of a short Circuit Race.  The race took place on the College's loop road which was closed to cars.  There wasn't much flat ground on this race, the back stretch was flat but had a chicane through a gate on it.  So this wasn't a typical race course.  I was thinking about doing two races today, but didn't feel like waking up early to hit the road.  I could have jumped in another race 10 minutes after my first, but said no way after finishing.  When I showed up they were hauling someone away in an ambulance, always a great way to start the racing day off.  There were some very fast corners on this course luckily everyone in my race were good bike handlers.  The Masters race I was in started off pretty chill with a little half lap warmup.  Then things started getting serious.  I think the BRFs started it off first with some breakaways.   People kept trying throughout the race but, I kinda decided that no breakaways were going to stick.  The course was hilly enough but, there was a strong head wind on the back straight which hurt anybodys chances of getting off the front.  There were only nine of us left with three laps to go  and one guy soloed off the front ending up with the win.  I didn't think he was going to stay away because we were slowly reeling him back but he made it.  I had decided on the last lap to be the first through the chicane.  Which I managed to do and I kept riding hard through the next two turns but was caught right after that.  I actually got a stitch in m side so I must have been going about as hard as I could.  I pretty much coasted in after that.  Finished eighth, at least I tried I guess.  It turns out the guy who won was a cat 1 so I don't feel so bad.  Good to see some of the BRFs and Andy Tegge was back tearing it up.  Hopefully I will do a few more road races this summer.  I definitely have the Troutman circled, though with it being a Wisport race the dynamic will completely different.  I looked for race results but couldn't find them.  -Later

Crystal Lake Classic

Not much to say about this race.  I wasn't expecting a lot this year even though I did pretty weel here last year.  I had my hardest back to back training days of the year on Wednesday and Thursday, and was feeling it on Friday.  Rested on Friday and hung out on the lake with my Family most of the day Saturday.  I prerode the course on Saturday and didn't really like the course changes.  I had a really nice long warmup and felt pretty good at the start, so I must have recovered somewhat.   The start for my wave was pretty chill.  I just grabbed a wheel and stuck on it.  He stayed up front for the first couple of corners then I jumped on two other guys that were making a move.  I felt pretty good riding with them and the three of us got a gap going into the singletrack.  We hit the first singletrack climb and they gapped me.  Still too fat I guess.  So I mostly rode by myself the first lap.  Had one washout on the first lap and banged my knee and lost my Bottle.  Luckily my Lovely Wife Christi was ther to do a great job with the handups.  The rain and small hail started the second lap, something I usually enjoy other than wrecking my bike.  I feel like I usually do well in a mud race.  This time the rain washed all my sweat into my eyes.  I rode for half a lap with my eyes burning and hardly able to see.  I ended up stopping and washing my eyes out with water at the second station.  The third lap went better for me as I felt more comfortable on the new course and the corners were tacky.  I ended up 3rd in age and 22nd overall, so not terrible.  My Teammates on the Elite side of things were really tearing it up.  With Jusin finishing 5th overall and Ben in 8th.  I don't think we could have gotten a better weekend even with the storms.  See ya outside...

Early Season Cross Training

Since I spent money on a new cross bike this spring Ihave to keep trying it out on diffrent rides. It really is a jack of all trades bike. Mostly I ahve taking it on my long tempo rides and trying to find some gravel roads to enjoy. I have occasionally taken it down the Mountain bay trail. Today I decided to ride it out to the Reforestration camp and do a lap. I really wasn't sure how well it would handle the singletrack. I gotta say I was pleasently suprised. Granted the Camp is nowhere near the roughest singletrack out there. But, the bike handled well on the roots, I never felt like the bike was about to wash out in the deep sand. Wish I could say I was going to race it for WORS but, have to get out of the saddle to float of the rough stuff just slows you down too much. It is much faster to sit and spin on my full suspension. I also noticed you need to ride in the drops, I felt like my hands were going to vibrate off the tops of the hoods. Ended up with a mostly easy 2:10. Shameless product plug alert. The Crux is an awesome bike and, it climbs like nobodys business. I am looking forward to embarressing myself on a cross course this fall. Another great turn out for the Hub ride on Thursday. The ride seems to be getting bigger and bigger and faster than before. The wind was out of the east which meant a super fast run into Wrightstown. A little more mellow on the way back into De Pere for some reason. As a group we weren't doing a good job riding two abrest. Not calling anyone out, I was guilty too. Just think we may ned to address that at the beginning of the ride. Guess I will see everybody at Iola in a few weeks. I was thinking of do a road race this year in madison but, just didn't feel like spending the money. Nothing is set in set in stone as far as races go. Just going to see what races I can make. I did get get into the cheq 40 again (thanks Jesse Sharp). That was just to get the Brisket at famous daves though. Hope everyone is enjoying our awesome spring.
-See Ya Outside

What I did on Saturday

I went and paid a visit to The Bike Hub of course. Finally pulled the trigger on a cross bike for training/racing. Not sure how serious I will be about racing cross but, I am willing to give it a try. When the bike comes in I plan on getting some fenders on it for early season riding. I also bought Some better Neoprene knee warmers and shoe covers to keep me warm. I wasn't sure how much I wanted to race this year but, I am riding like I want to be competitive. So I guess thats where my head is at. Thanks to Tom and Rebecca at The Bike Hub for answering all my questions.

Happy MLK jr Day

Had the day off from work. No compliants here, I felt like I needed a break after the last few weeks. I decided to go skiing today which quickly turned to a bike ride after realizing how nice it was outside. I headed down to Wrightstown and felt so good. I decided to ride all the way to Kaukauna. The sun was gently wapping me in the face thru the hazy January sky. It was a good day for a ride. The headwind was a little tougher than I thought it'd be but it wasn't bad. Toes and fingers started getting really cold. FYI if your toes go completely numb just get off and walk for 2 minutes. They perk right up. Got some good saddle time and more importantly outside enjoying the spring like weather. I have no complaints about the winter so far. I would like to ski more but, I haven't had to shovel much. Took the skiis up to Marquette last week for work and I might do so again next week. Lately just been spending more time with my Family. More than I would usually but, things have been a blessing in disguise. I have really enjoyed some of my visits. So what do you do if a Muskrat crosses the road in front of you? Take pictures of course! Thought those things hibernated? Hope life is treating everyone well.