Ideas for tour and need for help

Well the lawn service.... I mean bike shop is hopping. We are getting lots of new commuter beginner riders. I'm still poor so no raking me over the coals. I have got some great discounts from Marin on Road and Mt. frames. Well enough trying to sell everyone stuff. Tommey Dwyer made the suggestion to have a swap meet because everyone has stuff they want to get rid of. I'm thinking of the weekend before the tour of Mo. I will NOT be having a Mt. bike race before the tour there is not enough time for me to get everything done, we will just have to wait till next year. We will be having guided tour rides of the trails before the tour, I will need volenteers to help lead them and clear them. We might put together a camping feastival/camping at Corby at the race field the weekend before the tour.

My most humble apology to all

I rode the local trails Mon night with Jason and had an epiphany. The trails are overgrown and in poor repair, as was stated in earlier posts. It just hit me that Mr. Force is probably running a lawn service with all the equipment that he bought with donated money from various businesses around town. I noticed last Saturday at the shop that Greg was very evasive as to Mr. Force's whereabouts, stating he was procuring consumables from the local Hispanic fast-food establishment. I'm theorizing he was really out making some bank with the "trail working" equipment. Please be comforted by the fact that I am seeking out each of the "sponsors" and informing them of Mr. Force's shenanigans. We will put a stop to his capitalizing on use of the equipment bought strictly for trail work. This being said, please realize it is theory and there is no hard evidence to back it up. The strongest argument I have is the belief that none of the people that ride our local trails would allow them to degrade to their present state if free access was available for the right tools allowing the proper maintenance to be done. I simply have to conclude that people are wanting to use the tools, and Mr. Force is turning them away. Thank you for your time and I again apologize for not keeping closer tabs on Mr. Force's activities. Sincerely yours, Clyde S. Dale

Good Trails

So the camera on this phone sucks. I can never get a good picture - not that this one was going to be much to look at anyway, but they are all blurry all the time. Need to figure out how to hold still.

Trails are in decent shape. Some trees continue to fall, but it looks like folks have been pulling branches off to the side when they do. I came tearing around a corner on a super quick cheater ride before dark last night and just about nailed a downed tree just down trail of the first clearing at Corby South. Nearly scared a turd out of me. Stopped and pulled it off the trail, must have been hollow, cause it wasn't very heavy for how big it was.

Should be a good night tonight. Might try to make it out for a little while - hope to see some folks there????

Saturday Ride

So - because my contractors kick ass, we are on schedule and I get the weekend off. I'll be at Corby at 8AM to do some riding. I'm in crap shape, I've put on weight, and I can't remember where I left my bike - but I'd love some company.

I have to be home by 11:30, but I figure if we keep it steady and there's not too much trail damage we can get through most of trails in that time.

Call if you want....

752-2025

Lansen

On-Going Maintenance...

Well guys - with the monsoon season upon us, we all need to be a little vigilant while out riding. Everyone should have a folding hand saw on them during a ride. Also, if everyone kicks a few branches off the trail everytime they ride, no one has to spend their entire ride time cleaning up the trails.

By the end of the night on Tuesday, the Corbies were in good shape. I'm sure with the storms last night things are a mess again. No one needs to be a super hero, everyone just needs to stop and do a little on each ride.

This is the folding Corona Hand Saw. $20 at Lowes. It is the fastest cutting, lightest, best saw I have found. The blades do break sometimes though.

Lansen

Tree Down!

Hey all! I noticed tonight that there is a tree down on Corby north. Its down just before the bridge if you are heading south. Corby south , GSC and the brownie are all clear with a few greasy spots but it is all 100% ridable! Two people can definitely move the downed tree , but there is some weed wacking and trimming that needs to be done. Can we set aside a day for all of us to set our bikes aside and knock it all out? Everyone leave some comments so we can get an idea of when we can all get together!

bike patrol and race pics

Sorry i didn't let everyone know sooner but training for the bike patrol is tomorrow night at the police station at 6:30 pm. I've been a little busy with the race. I'm sure there is another time to train if you can't make this one. We have shirts being made for the patrol. It is a moisture wicking T-shirt so no front zip or pockets but it keep you cool.
Craig at Heartland racing says he was got tons of calls telling him how great the trails and race was. We have had an over whelming response to what we have got done. We are shooting for another race the week before tour of Missouri in September. Even though this won't be a heartland race they will support us by announcing it on their site. I would like to race the GS trail, I would like to have input in planning it, so just let me know. We need to use the wood donated to us by OE woods and Garfield to build some bridges!! Lets also keep up the idea of the 501c status for us we can get more donations that way.

Robidoux Roundup... wrapped up

What a wonderful day for a mtb race!... temp at start of registration was 59 degrees but felt very comfortable and there was just enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay all day.

As you can see from this picture... we had a wonderful turnout.  I'm going to say we had easily around 100 participants and quite a few spectators cheering us on.  Thanks by the way to all of those whom yelled my name in encouragement... it was heard & appreciated.  There were also quite a few supporters from the road biking community and even people I have not riden with in quite some time.  It was also fabulous to see several of the participant's families there.

I originally was thinking it was going to be closer to 7 mile laps and that sport would have to do 3 of them.  So that's what I came prepared to do... race but at the same time finish at my pace, strong, & having fun... and that's just what I did.  As a bonus, there was a few little pieces of trail that would have made for bottlenecks and which they closed off and I think the course was more fun & flowed better because of it.  Then doing only two laps was fine by me.  I'm going to venture to say that all the yocals thought the course was wonderful and I also spoke to several out-of-town participants that thought the same.

St. Joe was very well represented in multiple divisions... and sorry in advance if I get some names wrong.  Here is a shot of Rusty and I in Sport 30-39 at start of the race.  I had such a big grin that my tongue was even sticking out.  It's always a pleasure to watch Rusty kick it in turbo (he's one of the fastest sprinters I've met)... as you can see from how he started behind me and was starting to pass me.  By the way, the guy in the solid red & black jersey was the winner and I came in a close second... and ironically we are both 39 & last year in this competitive division.  I was having so much fun that when ever he and I would go by each other on a turn we'd smile and I even waved a couple of times.  Rusty finished third and not far behind me.  It was also awesome to see other yocals do really well... such as Señor Jim Spellman & Greg Goat whom won their respective divisions... way to go guys!  Russ and Randy also did very well and podiumed in their beginner divisions.  Of course, Randy also finished strong in his clydesdale division.  There were others yocals such as Jason & Tim whom did their first mtb race today and after speaking to them, think they enjoyed themselves... at least for the first lap.  ;0)

My son, Manuel, also raced and although there were no other competitors for his division, he pushed super hard and finished two short laps in just five minutes... even after a little wipe out in the woods!

Of course Lansen was missed... dude you would have loved the venue, people, & weather!

NUB AND STICKS

Randy and I trimmed everything and blew south Corby today. Randy will blow north tomorrow and we will be done with the major stuff. Jim was out de-nubbing north today also. I need help moving sticks brush and other objects out of the race path. The course looks good but we can do one better. Nubs need to be hand sawed too. All this can done from a bike.

Departing help and trail report

Elder Bradley (the crazy weed wacker with the look in his eye) is leaving today to go back to Utah. He has trimmed his fair share of trails and will be missed especially on trail day. The bridge side of North Corby would be a good place to start trimming for anyone wanting to help. I have equipment here to use, just come get it. The blower died today RIP but John from the Hi- Ho bought us a new one today so go down there and get smashed to show your appreciation.

We got some work to do

We all know the big race is this Sunday. Shaun and I ran the weedeaters for a spell on Corby South. We did the lower trail by the pond, around the tennis courts, and the stuff directly on the other side of the bridge. We found some pop can sized mushrooms above the tennis court and my wife fried em up last night...a great source of pre-race energy (or so I'm told). Shaun is chainsawing some big stuff today the little handsaws wouldn't make it through. He has 2 big weedeaters that are ready to rock. It's pretty crazy what those bastards will chew through with that thick line. Kinda makes my old curved shaft Stihl look puny! We need to pitch in and get this stuff done. Saturday needs to be for rest and not for sweating our 'nads trying to do the shit work at the last minute. There are some stinging nettles above the downhill on North that are 4 feet tall that need a new home. If they get much bigger, we may have to break out the chainsaws.

People from other places have ridden the GSC trail and are raving about it. Let's show em how good a trail can be and spiff ours up to its' best.

As you know, this trail work is like prison love...it's gonna happen whether you want it to or not, so you might as well enjoy it. RT

Whew.

Pretty long day of riding for me. Felt good.

Started doing a pre-lap with Jim at N.Corby, then Rusty showed and we did N.Corby again. We headed over to GSC, did that, did Brownie Trail, then GSC again. Then headed back to Corby and met up with Jason O. Did S.N.Corby race loop. Troy showed up and Rusty took off, so Troy, Jason, and I did another race loop. By this time I was starting to feel it a little bit, so I went home. I think Oz and Tbone went over to GSC, I hope so - that trail was in good shape today. In fact, even some of the a-seepage spots weren't as bad as they have been.

None of the trails were "muddy" but every thing was tacky. Pretty good for having an inch and a half of rain 24 hours before the ride.

It has pretty much rained the entire day since I finished riding. Not that we needed it, but it should be good for the shroom hunters. BTW, ran into some shroom hunters at N.Corby - they had 15 or 20 of the biggest mushrooms I have ever seen. No one will believe this, but the heads on these things were nearly as big as a baseball. Should have got a picture...

Here's Rusty looking for mushrooms. We never did find anyway.

Saturday Ride

I plan on being at Corby around 9am.

Sounds like the Columbians will be there a little later - closer to noon. I plan to still be on the bike.

Everyone, or anyone else who wants to ride - give me a call around 9am.

Trails should be in good shape - don't let the rain Thursday night and Friday morning scare you, Corby will be fine.

Lansen
816-752-2025

Swanson Park in Omaha

Hello Guys, here is a picture from one of the Omaha trails. Lansen needs to talk a group into coming up for a long weekend of riding sometime.

Rick

Sunday Racing

Well, I sucked hind tit. Lined up at the front like I had business being there - held on for the first lap, then ate ass for the rest of the race. That's it, it's nothing but hard riding for me until I'm back in shape.

Here's a picture of me trying not to puke up a lung. I haven't felt like that for a long time. I don't think I came in last, but it had to be close in the ss class.

Oh well - aside from the butt performance on my part, the day of racing was great. The Swanson trails were in great shape and were wide, fast, flowy, and relatively smooth.

I think Jason enjoyed himself too, even though he completely destroyed his bike.... Sorry dude, hopefully that der. hanger replaces easily with no other broken parts.

Saw lots of old friends, some new ones, and got passed by a bunch of folks I've never met. If that's not enough motivation, I don't know what is.

Lots of people are looking forward to the STJ race. I think we better consider incorporating both sides of Corby. Both the experts and the sports are really fast this year. Guaranteed, south side will not be enough for them alone.

New toys and article

I just bought a chain saw and a trimmer for the new club. We need to start thinking about starting Corby soon for the race. Anyone who wants to use the new equipment let me know. The article was nice in the paper, but it did refer to me as a ring leader so that must make the rest of you guys a gang of bikers.

A Big Day

We had a big day of riding. Corby South, Corby North, Brownie Trail, GSC, part of Krug, and Sunbridge.

After finishing Corby South we stopped at Rusty's car and dumped some clothes. It warmed up nicely.

Stopped at the end of Corby North and cleaned up that mud hole. Looks good now.

At GSC we cleaned up a bunch of the wet spots. We also re-routed one of the worst sections. Randy and I pulled out the hand saws and let loose. Rusty helped too, although we weren't sure what he was doing at the time (see photo).....

Sunbridge was beautiful! This picture does nothing for what the view actually was, but it was near perfection.

Back at Corby to get our clothes out of Rusty's car and guzzle a diet Mountain Dew.

Great day - Thanks guys!

All that Preparation....

For nothing.

I was ready to race today. Had myself in a winning mood by watching the Royals whip the Jays last night.

Stayed up too late, but what's racing a single speed with out a little sleep depravation?

Hydrated all night long - although I don't feel very hydrated right now... Feels about right for racing a single speed.

It rained all night long. I guess even after all that preparation, it just wasn't meant to be.

You know, it's kind of funny. In the dead of winter while cross country skiing with Big Randy, we ran into Jav while he was out snow shoeing. He was telling us about his plan to whoop my ass this year, and he had already figured it all out. He was going to come out swinging at the "first race of the year", and be the fastest guy in town. I said sounds good, but Corby isn't even close to being the first race of the year. Jav says "It will be, the others will be cancelled or postponed, I guarantee it". I thought it was a reasonable scenario, but not very likely that all the races up to Corby would be cancelled. Now... Here we are - the prophecy has come to pass. Corby will be the first race, and since you can ride that course in the rain and not hardly get dirty, I think it will go. Jav is strong, fast, and ready to serve it up.

Well - think I'll ride the STJ trails today. We know they drain. Start on Corby at around 9:30AM. Probably wrap that up and head over to GSC. Assuming that looks good we'll wrap that up and cruise over to the River. Should be a good day.

You know - when the whole midwest is under water, all you out of towners are welcome to come ride our sweet, drainable trails. Any time....

Canceled

According to the Heartland website the race at Perry is canceled! That Stinks!!
http://heartlandrace.com

Perry Race Update for Sunday!!

Geared up to 33x18 last night, looks like it was not in-vane. Not feeling super strong or windy, but should be able to finish with some self respect.

See below for the race update from the Heartland guys...

<<>>
04.25.2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Perry Lake Crocodile Rock,
Sunday April 27th
http://www.heartlandrace.com

The latest dirt on course conditions:Lyle Riedy, the race director for this Sunday's 7th Annual Crocodile Rock , just informed us that the course is in great shape. Tacky with just a few small wet spots. Looks like moisture the past several days missed the trails.IMPORTANT info for racers travel west on I-70 from KC:There is an IRL race this Sunday at the Kansas Speedway. Please allow for extra travel time to Crocodile Rock due to the increased traffic heading to the speedway.

All the details on the 7th Annual Crocodile Rock, can be here:http://www.heartlandrace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=33