Gravel Grind

Dave, Jason, Randy and I did a little gravel grind this morning. Things started out pretty well frozen with some good snow pack to ride on but as things progressed it started to get a little sloppy. Got to try out the new mountain bike that I got for my birthday via Ebay and permission from my wonderfully understanding wife (believe it or not she wanted my to get it!) Bike was great and can't wait to get in on the trails! Anyway we ended up getting in about 34 miles... good ride! Here's the route on google earth.

Here's a pic of the new bike while assembling
And another just after her maiden voyage!

We are all insane!

"To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain....at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep-down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly-Winks." ~Scott Martin

This weather sucks donky balls!!

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I see 40's in the forecast for the end of next week... Don't know about you, but I am tired of freezing my nuts off!! Time to put the cross bike away for a while and get out the MTB...

Aaah, the memories of green grass, cold beer and 90 degrees!!!

Snow Patrol...

Had a good turn out this Saturday for a ride through Sunbride and Krug. Randy, Dave, Craig, Jim, Brad and I met down by the casino and ran up through Sunbrige, ground was frozen so everything was "ridable".. Snow was making it a bitch however, you really had to fight for every yard..
Halfway up the first hill, Jim tells us BradBob left because his fingers were cold? WTF??? Dude, were .16 of a mile into it and your hands are cold? Its effen winter out!! What did ya think it was going to be like? Your going to be hearing about this for a while.. Got some explaining to do Mr. Rylie....

You might have even got to see Crookster performing some sick downhill action! Mad skillz!!!

So...... We are taking turns descending a rather large hill (going backwards) in Sunbrige. I am just waiting for my turn (was last because I am a hard breathing fat kid) to go down, when I hear Randy and Craig hollering something at Crook who just passed them.... Pretty sure he went down but Jim and I thought nothing of it..
Then I notice them both racing off in that direction (rather panicked looking). Damn, I hope he hasn't hurt himself...

Once I made it down I couldn't see anyone.. what the hell is going on?... I come a little further to find Crook and his bike is at the bottom of a 45-50 foot cliff...

He is fine, so we can all laugh and give him shit now, but at the time we seriously were thinking he had to break something.. That Cliff he just rode his bike off of was insanely steep, large and frozen solid... Randy should have probably posted this since he saw it happen... I still don't know exactly how it happened...



View from the bottom!! Seriously this thing was huge.. That's Crook (alive) in the middle, probably standing yet 10' from the bottom... Jim is up top to kind of give you some prospective...

Crook was a trooper, continued on the ride for a while... HTFU indeed Sir.!

First group trail ride of 2010!!

This Saturday, 8:00am... Meet at the boat ramp by the casino.. We are going to run through sunbridge and Krug... Be there, or be a prom dress shopping sissy boy!!! AKA the Hippy!!!

Leadville 100

Found out today that we (JP, Randy and myself) did not get selected for the Leadville 100 this year. Not really suprised at not getting picked but I was suprised by their email explaining that we could still get in if we signed up for a 2 day training camp in June with Carmichael Training Systems (Lance Armstrong's longtime trainer). Basically the camp will cost you $1,250.00 for the two days and you will get your entry fee waved and a spot in the Leadville 100 will be reserved for you.
I know that Lance Armstrong has done wonders for the race with all the publicity he brings but I still find it a little disappointing that they would even consider reserving spots for these "campers" who can obviously afford the camp and the expense of the additional trip (for the majority of us folks anyway) that the camp requires. I can see reserving spots for high profile cyclists, sponsors and past race volunteers but to me this camp "deal" is just not right.

White Stuff

Felt a little guilty for not making it out to Jamesport yesterday with Randy and David for the gravel grind so I decided to at least get outside today and hit the snow covered trails.
This may have been the best day of the year to ride in the snow. Everything was covered with at least an inch of the white stuff. Ground was still semi-froze and with fresh snow on top
traction was really good.
Made some climbs I thought I could'nt and did'nt make some that I thought I could but all in all it was good.
Saw Jason out on the cross bike riding the parkway and Krug. Dude has bronchitis and he's still out there gettin it!
Anyway left my tracks on South, North, Girl Scout and the Brownie
Going was a little slow but still got in a great workout... Feels good to get back on the mountain bike
Few pics for ya below. A little trail maintenance is in our near future but things really don't look to bad.

Hello, my name is Jason and Im a bikeaholic....

I had a little insight into the severity of my bike addition today when I was driving my MO Western.
While driving by, I see some area that is marked off with posts and strings of some sort tied to them.

I honest to God thought to myself as I glanced over (In order)-

Holy F-ing awesome, someone set up a cross course at Missouri Western!! Is there a race? Is it today? What the hell is going on? Wait a sec... how could there be a cross race in town and I don't know about it? Maybe it was a student ran endeavour and we did not hear about it? I was just on localcyceling.com yesterday!Hummmm...........5-10 seconds later...
HOLY CRAP, that is just construction going on campus!!
Better not share that one with my wife (sitting next to me), she already thinks I am crazy..

So. There you have it, thought I would share it to the only people that would understand....

Spring training....

You go playin on the pavement out in the North End, behind Krug, you see this sign.. The fun is about to begin!!!

Trainers suck! Can't do um, don't like um, don't plan on using them any time soon...>

Apparetnly I have a very short attention span and I cuss at the trainer every time I even look at it. I will only use it when there are no other options, and being cold outside is sure as hell not going to get me on it..

So say it with me, F**K TRAINERS!!!

Here is THE hill that is going to single handedly get me (And whoever else wants) in fine form... Ugh, hopfeully.... Randy is the only other soul that has been getting out here consistantly... That I konw of anyway....

Now the pictures do not give the hill any justice but its going to hurt you.. Its not very long, pob just under 1/4 mile long...But this is the Queen B, the pain maker, whatever you decide to name it.. Got to ride it before you name it though..

Now when you approach it, it is not very intemidating looking, part of its charming chaircter.

Now you begin the climb... And you start to notice that while its starting to turn to the left, you think to yourself "Dude, this is a steep little f**k*r". border=0>Now you hit a sraight but the first short steep little climb has got your heart racing and legs burning and you have only STARTED the climb. You look up and say hooooly S**t this is going to suck so much ass!Once you make it to the next turn, your heart rate is through the roof, the lactic acid is substantially builging in your legs and the hill starts to get in your head.. This is about the point where you want to quit.. No, serously, you want to quit...Since you just made a deal with yourself that you just need to make it to the next mailbox in order to keep going. You hit the corner and the grade goes up again, your heartrate is maxed, evey ounce of you wants to quit climbing to make the pain stop...

You hit the top of the corner and boom, your still not done, your not close to being done..

The grade goes down slightly, but its still steep and you still have 60 yards to go...

The sight of this picture here, is actully a little demoralizing.. Every ounce of your being is hurting, but this is where the real stuff starts... Its time to dig deep, quit being a sissy boy and HTFU..

So you have made it, you did not quit (that is never a real option anyway) you can't catch your breath, your heart is maxed out!! That sucked!!! Time to do another loop....See you again soon.

Tis the season for gettin it!

The XC race season is shaping up to be a awesome 2010!! With that said, I decided that just maybe I actually start to make some gains in the off season... As opposed to last year when I got close to my race weight/legs etc, after the season ended...

As I have said to some folks who haven't tried it, Cyclocross is about the most fun you can have with your cloths on, and all of us that put in a season are defiantly reaping the rewards of being quite fit for the off season.

So now is the time beeoches!!! Cut back on your calories, maybe try to force yourself to drink light beer.. Just kidding, that would be stupid. Due cut the calories though.

I am telling you, now is the time to start getting things into full gear. If you can get on a trainer, good for you (I do think you are sissy boys though).... N0 offence to the many I know who do so..

For the rest of you that can HTFU and ride outside, say hello to your new little friend!!

And there are plenty more where this is located... If you think you want to HTFU, let us know, we will be more than happy to whip the off season beer fat off ya!

a.k.a. kick your own ass know so you can kick others later!!! Passing people is the Sheet.

KC Sprints

T Garv, Bob Fitz and I are going to try and get KC Sprints to come up to the HI-HO... So all you sukers MUST attend... I will let you know more when a date is set.....

Check it out..

http://www.kcsprints.blogspot.com/

If you want to help organize it that would be awesome too.... Just let one of us know...

Thanks, guys

Hi guys,

A few quick thoughts I'd like to share...

I know I don't use the trails for riding much, but I do run on them several times a week. On behalf of all the runners & walkers on the trails, I want to say thanks for the hard work you all have done to build & maintain sustainable trails. They are a great asset for the city to have, and it is all due to you all.

On a somewhat related note, when you guys plan work days this spring to do trail maintenance, please include me on the notifications. I know several of you have my email address. I'd like to be able to give back & help out. I betcha there would be a cooler in the back of my truck too.

I know JDoug has called me out here on this blog before. This year, I promise to get out there on my mtb more. Just don't drink all my beer before I catch up to you guys back at the parking lot.

Finally, I passed a bunch of you (me, running the other direction) on your group ride Saturday on the Riverfront trail. I am glad to see you were keeping warm. Holy smokes, you guys reminded me of the little brother on A Christmas Story the way you were all bundled up. Oh and I hope I didn't offend anyone with the "spandex-wearing something something something" comment.

That's it. See you out there soon!

Dirty Kanza

Well, I had ambitions this year of taking in this 200 mile race out in KS. I rather enjoy the endurance races...

Well, the f-ing registration opened on Sunday and closed 13 hours later!! Needless to say I will not be on the starting list... As least for now... If anyone else is interested you can get on a waiting list... you have to email cstoeltzing@yahoo.com

Hope this is no indication of how my 2010 race season is going to go... Day late and a dollar short...

XC ski time

I been takin thew skinny skis to the Savannah golf course and Hony Creek Conservation area this week. You can ski at night at the golf course w/o a light because of the ambient light from Savannh town itself. There are lotsa deer and turkey to be seen at the conservation area as well. Get a pair, grow a pair, and come skiing with me. Its just what the doctor ordered for cabin fever. The hippie

The Lansen Chronicles

Lansen calls me on New Year's Day and wants to go XC skiing. We load up and he asks if my good ole boy 4x4 is up to the task of a side road by his house thats a little drifted in. I had just put on new tires and answered to the affirmative. The road has a high crown and were doing great till I slide off said crown and bury it in the freakin ditch. The snow is so deep on the passenger side Lansen has to crawl out my side to just get out. We gear up to make the mile and a quarter trek back to his house for shovels and his Subaru Outback when i discover that I left my ski boots in my garage. I hoofed it back while he skied...great fun! Lansen inherited 2 grain shovels when he bought his has last year so we were set. We get back to the stuck truck and my shovels' handle snaps on the 4th scoop. It was all fun till then. We took turns digging around and under the Tundra for a hour and a half. We hooked the Suby to the truck with an industrial strength tow rope and got the truck back about 20 feet but not out of the ditch. I could then just get the front end to come out for a bit, then it would slide back in because of the angle and the slick snow. I about had it out once when the whole front end slid back in the ditch in some fresh, unshoveled snow...well crap! Crap was not my exact word but, as this is a family site, crap is gonna have to work. I was just getting dark when we got done shovelling the 2nd time. We hooked the car back up and got it out. Plenty of exercise, but not the kind we went lookin for. Below is the bitch of a ditch and the little grocery getter that did all the work. the hippie.

Been Some Time

I haven't posted for like..... ever.... Bout since the last time I rode my bike. Sorry guys.

Anyway - I know the Hippie has a good post. It's just waiting out there for us. It even has some pictures; some good pictures. I'd really like to know how that post would go, if it actually showed up on here. It was an afternoon to remember.

There was snow.... There was a truck.... There was a shovel, and a half.... There was some pride.... and There was a little "grocery-getter-station-wagon".

Remember Hippie????

off the hook for tomorrow!!

Epic Bike and Sport Given recent snow, ice & temperatures we have decided we cannot put together a complete & safe course for the Epic Holiday CX Race

Epic Bike and Sport Stay tuned to localcycling.com for a rescheduled date, tentatively Saturday, Januray 16th. We hope to see you then!

Cross Off the Old Year

Cross off the old year, CX race was Thursday in Shawnee KS. From the pic below you can see that it was damn cold out. The course was in a park and they had put a lot of work on it to get it ready for the race. This was my first Cross race in crappy conditions (the way cross is supposed to be). Nate and I raced cat 4, while JP did cat 3 (I think) and Spencer did singlespeed. The Hippie pussed out on us because his mangina was hurting him..

There were 19 toed up for the Cat 4 race, starting to recognize some folks out there. Man it was cold, I could not feel my fingers about a half a lap into it. I did not feel great but good enough I guess. Started in my usual place, near the rear and worked my way towards the front. After a lap I was kinda surprised to still see the top guys in the group. I battled it out with about three guys most of the time. I had it in my head that we were doing 4 laps, so after lap 3 I hear them telling us that we have two laps to go.... SOB! I remembered thinking.....
It was a hard race and I ended up mentally just content with hanging on and just finishing this thing. While just trying to hold on, I kept coming up on people, some folks were hurting worse than I was. By the last lap I was spent, came down the home stretch and two guys I was trailing seemed to be lollygaging towards the finish. So I said the hell with it, cranked it and passed the both of them on the outside, probably the coolest finish I have been in.. Ended up 6th. Happy to be moving up..

I really think the MTB riding helped out on conditions like these. The only problem I had was clipping back into my eggbeaters. I saw tons of fellas DNF'ing because they could not clip in at all.
Nate had to DNF because he could not get into his pedals... Eggbeaters are the way to go for CX for sure.

Nate at the start.Me after lap one I think..

It got pretty tricky out there, you were kind of all over the place. I have read some blogs from guys racing and they said the course was in good condition.... So who knows...

JP, sportin the MTB for the race.

JP

Spenser racing SS group...

JP again.

JP getting chased. This section was about the halfway point. There was a rather long downhill just before this, then a hay bail obstacle that you had to go over. This area was hard as hell to get clipped back in..

Spencer gettin it..

Now this guy raced before me in the masters group. Each lap this sob stopped and tipped one back! I think I like his style.... Wearing plad pants to boot!

Pimpin aint easy.... JP and I kickin it watching the big boys race..

Should be another cold one on Sunday.. Be nice if we can get some more fellas out there... Don't be sissy's boys... I think Hoppe is out, but don't know about anyone else..

Leadville Trail 100 Registration

Registration for the lottery is now open (Thanks JP for letting me know about it!)
Here is the link
www.leadvilletrail100.com
Hope we have some takers... Gonna be awesome if we get picked!
CH

Cross Course and Trails

Spenser took a shovel to the cross course to make it rideable... Good thing too with a race coming up on the 31st...

As far as the trails go, I am pretty sure they are nasty and muddy with these high temperatures and snow melt... I think the leafs are helping absorb some of the wetness but I would not ride them until it gets cold enough for the ground to freeze... Anyway...

Thanks again Spenser... And who is going to the CX race next week?

Still no sign of that niner under my tree!!! Damn it.....