This is what you need!

No stink'n chain to mess with!

Sunflower State Games, Topeka

Turned out to be a great day for racing, and on a surprisingly nice course. Its not what I thought it was going to be when we arrived. Randy and I pulled up and there was know one around, I mean know one. We asked some folks in their cars if they knew where a mtb race was being held and they had no clue. We eventually found out that we were in the right spot, but I initially thought this was going to be a cluster f*#k of a race! Once they got everything up and running it all went pretty smooth. We parked next to JP Brocket and fam, at registration saw Travis and Garrett from Ethos.

Took off on a pre lap(ish) and much to my dismay found that the start consisted of ½ mile or so of gravel walking trail. So right from the get go I knew riding my single speed with zero spinning ability I was going to have to work hard to catch up with the leaders right from the start.

The start went off like I knew it would, spinning like crazy while folks were whizzing by me in their large rings. At the end of the walking trail I finally got onto an area that leveled the playing field a little. Was about 12 back until then when I worked my way back to the top 5 before hitting the single track. From then it was the same story, I did really well on the single track and then lost 100/150 yards on the walking trail. Had one little mechanical and had to deal with my rear wheel (not sold on horizontal dropouts) but that really did not take up too much time.

Second lap I took it a little easy and wanted to finish strong. Tony riding directly in front of me had the same idea however. I charged on him once I got out of the walking trail heading out on the third lap. He saw me coming for him and put on the gas. I kept expecting to see him on some of the switchbacks but never did. I headed out to the home stretch out in a field where I finally saw him and a little too far for me to catch him before the finish. Took 3rd by 20+ seconds.

I would really like to beeoch and complain that I could have done much better if the ½ mile of gravel walking trail was not there. But John from Cow Town won my Cat 2 race on a single speed and Garrett from Ethos flippen KILLED it on his.

All in all it was a great day for racing and I am also stoked that the Hippy got back on the bike and racing! First race since bonebender for him. Did well, hope he had fun!

I will post some pics if I can find them… Results are here…..

One more of Jens! Had to post...

Click Here......

 

Will post about Sunflower State Game in a bit... Randy and I went down and raced it on Sunday...

“Oh no, I don’t need YOU!”

Jens Voigt is my Favorate Pro Roadie Alive!!

(New York Times) While Lance Armstrong’s attempt to win Tuesday’s stage of the Tour de France at the age of 38 stole the headlines, Jens Voigt, a German support rider on a rival team who is one day older than the former champion, won praise from many cycling fans just for refusing to quit the race.

Voigt, who rides in support of a teammate who currently stands in second place in the overall standings, Andy Schleck, had to go to extraordinary lengths to finish Tuesday’s stage after his front tire “exploded” and he crashed while descending a mountain in the Pyrenees at more than 40 miles per hour. His bike was shattered and his body bloodied.
In a post on Bicycling magazine’s Web site, written after his various injuries were eventually diagnosed, Voigt explained: “About the only place that feels good right now is my right ankle. The rest of me is all road rash. Plus I’ve got five stitches in my left elbow and then there are some ribs that are not in the right place! I may have to get X-rays, but I hate X-rays (the radiation), and plus, if I’ve got a fractured rib, what can anyone do about it?”
He added that after his crash, he was confronted by the Tour’s dreaded “broom wagon,” which sweeps up riders who decide to abandon the race along the road when the going gets really tough. He refused to get in, despite no longer having a bike to ride.

Voigt explained how he got back in the race:

The worst thing of all was that I almost got forced out of the Tour for a second year in a row. The problem was that the first team car was behind Andy Schleck, and the second had decided to go up ahead to hand out water bottles at the foot of the next climb. As a result I had no bike, because mine was shattered.
So then the broom wagon pulled up and was like, “Do you want to just get in?” And I said, “Oh no, I don’t need YOU!” But there I am with blood spurting out my left elbow and no bike. Finally, the race organizers got me a bike, but it was this little yellow junior bike. It was way too small for me and even had old-fashioned toe-clip pedals. But that is the only way I could get down the mountain, so I had to ride it for like 15-20 kilometers until I finally got to a team car with my bike.

Post Stage Interview with Jens...

Another note/reminder.. Race this Sunday! Weather permitting anyway...

Nationals/Tour/Support Group....

A midwest racer that some of you might know, Cameron Chambers, had a hell of a showing out at nationals. He has raced around the midwest for a while now, usually can be seen as a blur while passing you. Took 2nd at Nationals out in CO in Single Speed. BadAss, this one is... Read his Post at Stumpjumper Trail Crew. What a feeling that would be, I can only imagine.

If you were watching the Tour today, you will see that there is a new leader in yellow. Following his attack of Schleck while he had a mechanical. His chain fell off/locked up and Contador took advantage. What a douche. Here is a video of the action. (Warning, video contains douchbaggery, viewer discretion is advised)

Pictured here in fine finger banging douch form. The finger bang? Really?

Hope you got some good riding in this weekend. Unfortunately for me, my legs are dead. Think I have finally pushed it too far. Its crazy, was putting in personal best lap times out at Krug a week are so ago. But last two rides my heart rate skyrockets with every climb. I am supposed to be getting faster not slower. So, after some serious consultation from my friends. Wait, they don't claim me... After some consultation from fellow mtb enthusiasts it is decided that I need some recoup time.... Which is actually quite hard to do, its been one day and I am going to test the legs out this eve, I have no control over this decision... Is there a bike withdraw support group or something?

Who is going to race in Topeka this Sunday besides me? Sunflower State Games, July 25...

Little of this, little of that...

JP and GMapes from Shores Sports raced out at Nationals, heard it was brutal climbing and competition...
The Pros and Single Speed races are this weekend... Watch it live here...

In case you haven't heard, there is another little race going on. Pretty exciting s**t (being on pavement and all)...
Some cool pics summarising the first half here... Also check out Pave (on the blog roll)if you want some great insight...
I love this picture and stage... Simply Awesome!


That's about it.. Don't think I am making it to Perry this weekend, but will hit up Krug tomorrow morning. Give the legs a nice thrashing then recover a bit next week and gear up for the Sunflower state Games in Topeka...

Also, we have had some thunderstorms recently, let us know if there is any trouble spots on the trials from trees falling... Better yet, find one, move it....

Racing, etc...

Have been waiting to post to see if I can't get some race results/Pics up and going.
This is all I can find so far..

But nothing is posted that I can find. I know Hoppe headed down to Springfield to race in a Fat Tire Series XC race last Sunday.
Also Nick and Larry (Sounds like a sitcome couple, anyway) went up to Hopkins and get their rodie on.. I bet there are some other Joetown folks up there also. Jav and Rusty, prob more..
Post something if you know where we can pull up any info..

Also, a huge good luck to everyone going to Nationals!! I think its tomorrow... JP and GMapes from Shores Sports are there, Tim King from Smithville is there. Not sure about other local riders...

Other races coming up are:
Sunflower State Games, Topeka KS, July 25th!


Crocodile Rock, Perry Lake State Park, Perry KS, Aug 1st! (Raindate)


Thinking about trying to get out to Perry Lake this weekend to pre-ride the single track to get a little familuar with it. Anyone else interested? Need to see if I have any takers before I try and get it approved with the wifey....

Courtesy of Drunk Cyclist….

Cat Fight!
Posted on July 9, 2010 by Flodizzle
Categories: Rants, Tour de France

Wow, sparks and tempers were flaring after today’s stage! Nothing screams “Lil Bitch” more than a couple cyclists clad in lycra and funny shoes tussling in public. And to make matters worse, Quick Step rider Carlos Barredo used a spare wheel to aid in his bitch slapping. You wanna kick dude’s ass? First take off your tap dancing shoes, then step up, square up and clock the fugger right in the grill. Or better yet, grab his trachea and squeeze that shit like you’re juicing an orange. Otherwise, go ice your nuts and chill. That reminds me….who was that dude on the National scene a few years back who purportedly picked up a 2×4 post race to finish a fight?


Hey, any one riding tomorrow morning?

Nevermind....

Just got back from 2 hours on the cross bike. Felt great... It was the pizza... Forget that last post, I'm having a beer!

TaterHog is what I am…

Took off on the cross bike to pedal around town. Let me tell ya, Pizza Hut for lunch is NOT fuel to the fire!!! Felt like a fat girl playing dodge ball out there, I was just getting abused by every hill out there!! I took off down the parkway and headed to Benton, those hills are not much, but had me winded a bit, at this time I realized how bad of a ride this was going to be. Took off down to King Hill and skipped Harvard and went straight to springwood. This was discouraging how hard that hill was for me when I am “supposedly” in shape. Now that this was a huge painful endeavor, I decided to punish (can’t skip a training day no matter how shitty I feel) myself and head over to Huntoon/2nd street for my diet going to crap. Man, I tell you what, its kinda remarkable what a few extra pounds can do to you..
Which brings me back to Taterhoggen… Not the kind of poundage that the hippy likes in his arse, but the poundage too many beers, pizza, burgers and frys do to you.. Dropping 20lbs has made a world of difference from last year… Going from bottom 50% of races to top 3’s in the Cat 2…
The problem I have is once I get really close to where I want to be, I slack off and go to shit.. Got into the consistent 179-181 range but lacked the discipline to go full monty and drop another 10… So the extra 5lbs that I was carrying yesterday was the difference between being on top of my gearing but being behind it… Which is not a pleasant place to be… So I am re-re-re inspired to cut the shit out of my diet and catch that F-ing Hoppy once and for all!! Besides if I am ever to race Cat 1 that is what its going to take…

$ 1,200 Carbon Frame, $750-$1,200 Wheelset, $450 Carbon Drive-train, crank, etc... $150 Carbon seatpost/handlebars
= Ass load of money to drop 6lbs off..

$0.00 eat right and ride your bike
= no money and droping 10-50lbs...

Hummmmm, let me do the math on that....
So say it with me… NO MORE CHEESEBERGERS!!

Pedle on Beeoches!!
BTW, a certian a-hole which I will leave nameless put in a 37.2 min lap at Krug...

Saturday!!

Tons of people out riding Sat morning... It was awesome!! Maybe one day we will get a bit more organized...

Was a great day on the trails...