GONE!

Went for a ride today and started to ride Corby North.  Bulldozed! Yes, we all knew it was coming, but most of us secretly hoped that they would only take a  little chunk.  Well, the north end is gone.

This trail is responsible for getting a lot of people hooked on riding off-road.  It is the only real beginner trail we had.  I don't think it will be much good when they are done.  It looks like we may be able to salvage maybe half of it. 

It will be missed!

More Trailwork...

Another group of workers will be meeting at Krug tomorrow morning in the top parking lot @ 8am to finish weed eating the trails.  Bring whatever equipment you have , but dont let a lack of equipment keep you at home, we will have some extra equipment for you. One week till the festival and we need all hands on deck.

Volunteers Needed

Trailwork time!  A group is meeting at the corby parking lot at 7:30 am tomorrow morning to finish up corby south and start corby north.  If you can't come on Saturday, another group is going out on Sunday morning at 7:30 am to pick up what's left.  Bring your trimmers, extra line and some fuel and let's get those trails looking nice.

24" Marin MB For Sale

It's warming up outside and my daughter has out-grown her bike since last year.  If one of your kids needs a solid MB, you might want to check this out.  Contact info listed below.  See you on the trail!

Can you feel it?

Spring is coming! Go ride yo bike!!

In other news, there is a bike festival organizing... For more info check out ST. Joe Dirrt, because I really don't know any details..
Hey, also if you want to be a contributor and actually post on this site, just let me know... FB has made you all lazy bums!!

Corby North

I know the rumors have abounded about how Corby North will be impacted by news of the Urban Trail being extended from Gene Field down to Corby Pond this year.

Early on, when the rumor started, all that we really knew was that we needed to connect the dots but we didn't know the path we'd take to do that. Thanks to a number of the guys on this blog, we've been trying to make sure that we do the best to keep Corby North a neat trail. As a beginner/intermediate level mountain biker myself, Corby is important to me personally.

The cool thing is that the guy that wrote grant to extend the Urban Trail was smart enough to ensure that funds were set aside in the grant to restore, mend and hopefully try to make the trail better where impacted.

One of the guys I work with just showed me some neat restoration ideas this week that I'd say are pretty exciting. But the proof is in the pudding so if you get a chance to stop by my office, I'll show you and would like to know what you think. If there are better ideas, this is the time to plug them in. As a tease, for the first time ever we actually have access to a day or two of contractor labor and equipment for this. Maybe that means that some ideas that would just be too much work with manual labor are possible.

So take a bit and stop by when you get a chance. Plans will probably get sent out in a few weeks so that's the window for input. It's a team deal and the last thing I want to do is to goof up a tremendous trail while we're also doing good for the Urban Trail. Both can co-exist and flourish together. In fact, I think that trail opens up a lot of prospects further north up in the timber that wasn't real feasible until the Urban Trail extension was conceived.

Bike Fest - Cash$$ :)

JDoug,

'11 was a crap year for me as I spent all from basically late May thru November hip deep in flood stuff. Because my head was out of it, I got behind on the important stuff.

But as I've gotten back in the swing I've been hearing about a Bikefest or something taking off in May. What I have heard sounds cool. Better yet, I have access to a little cash from a grant source to help make it better yet (if that's needed). Let me know how I can help on this and would be happy to do my bit.

Want to get faster in 2012?

Then lose weight fattie! No, seriously... You can spend a fortune getting the coolest lightest MTB money can by. If your 20, 30, 40+lbs heavier than you should be, well...... That $5K, 20lb rocket ship you have ain't gettin too far off the ground. Not that I know many people that can swing that kind of a ride.

Anyway.... By far the best thing you can do for riding, heck, life in general is to LOSE THAT BELLY..
I am by no means an expert, I did not study nutrition in school, etc, etc... All I really have done is read a couple of books and actively seek out whatever works for other people.

First thing first, 90% of america does it WRONG! There is no magic pill, potion, etc that can substitute for eating right. It does take discipline, I won't kid ya. Nasty crap tastes great!

I have really only read two books and find one pretty good, and one great...

Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald

Paleo Diet for Athletes by Loren Cordain, Ph.D & Joe Friel

Both are good, and they both work. I will over simplify the two for time sake and why I prefer one over the other.

Racing weight is basically counting the calories you take in and burn throughout the day. If you create a calorie deficit of 200-300 calories then your on your way to a leaner you. The trick is keeping it within 200-300 calories. This means you get lean without losing muscle, take in two few calories and your eating away at muscle, too many calories and you guessed it big boy... You get bigger.
In order to do this you have to get your resting metabolic rate (how many calories your body burns throughout the day) and then figure out how many calories your burning when working out. Then you count the calories you take in and there you have it..

Paleo is a bit different, well about as different as you can get. The basic premise is to stay away from processed foods (which is making America larger than the rest of the planet combined) and eating purely fruit, veggies and lean protein. Where the "for athletes" comes in is you deviate from the plan before, during and after training and racing. At this time you take in more high glycemic carbs that you would not normally take in under the plan.

For me, I prefer the Paleo plan because is takes some of the thinking out of everything, other than what to eat. I don't have to look up the calorie count of this or that, I don't have to do any calculations and I don't have to keep track of what I am eating (seriously, I was looking up bananas, a slice of bread, sugar for my coffee, etc. etc.) each meal/snack all day. I have done it and it does get rather old in a short amount of time.

The hard thing about Paleo is that you have to plan ahead. Its quite hard to find quality food that is not loaded with starches when you have to juggle family/work/training/etc and your running around constantly. In today's society, crap food is the standard, even the 'healthy' food isn't all that great. Also, I know a few dudes who whoop my butt on a bike that follow it... Which never hurts its case...

I would say the biggest thing for me is that when I got lean under race weight, I did not feel strong. Yes it did get me light; but at what expense? Under the Paleo plan, with its high protein intake I can get lean, but still feel strong and for racing bikes, that kind of makes my decision a no brainer...

Again, I do want to emphasize that I am in no way, shape or from qualified to give anything near professional advice. Just a dude who likes to compete and share what helps me. All in all, go and find out what works for you, just thought I would try and help... That and  I can't get any other of my Joetown peeps to post on here...

Thanksgiving Ride

 You missed out... I forget how much fun it is to ride MTB in the Fall. We posted, but only Larry came out to play with the rest of us... The weather was perfect... Actually it was a little too warm... Rode through Krug and Sunbridge, its was great... Too short though...

Took off from the bottom parking lot of Krug

Just getting started, notice the youngster on the left ready to go; old men front and to the right, sucking water and sucking wind!!

Got to love youthful enthusiasm. Especially when it comes to trail work!

Getting a refresher of Krug climbing..

Someone has been spending too much time on his road bike... We ride down the hills buddy!

Felt really good to get back on the Fat tires... I am also extremely excited about Sunbridge, it has so much potential out there you can't believe... Just need a loop of some sort....

Can you spot the Roadies?

Should not be too hard... Found this over at Hellingham...


The Good, The Beered and The Muddy from Ben Stuart on Vimeo.

Rain...

Don't you just find this cold and wet fall day inspirational?

No...???

Well watch this then...



Yah, thats better......

Little man is killin it!!

Saw this little Gem over at DC! Kids got the gift....



You know... You guys can post on here also... I know there is a ton of cool stuff going on...
Don't be bashful!!

JDoug

More Race Cancellations...

What in the hell is going on? RIM was cancelled and now two of my favorite races at my favorite venues for cross are cancelled...

This kind of blows....

Granted I am not a promoter myself (heartfelt thank you for all of you that are) and there are/were probably good reasons, but man, what is going on? 

Smithville and Leavenworth Races Cancelled

KC Cycling News

Tuesday, 27 September 2011 07:19

While there is a healthy schedule of cyclocross races in the KC Metro, the newsdesk has just picked up word from the KCA pagethat the full weekend events at Smithville and Leavenworth (formerly known as DeStad van Kansas Series are cancelled.

This leaves two prime weekends without local events. There are some events within reasonable drive time, but it will be interesting to see if replacement races will materialize.

Cross Course...

Cross is here folks, wheather your ready for it or not... We have a stellar course laid out here in St. Joseph thanks to the Hippy and his mini hippys... Seriously, they out did themselves,  this is a truly fun course, one of the best I have been on...

Its hidden away a little, out on 16th street and Duncan..... Down, kind of by the Mead building...


View Larger Map

Not sure how many of you are familiar with Cyclocross... Basically you ride your bike in circles around a field, um, really fast-like... Does not sound like fun, but its actually a blast... And there are a lot of folks who race their mtb bikes on it... Just put some different tires, and your good to go....

• Introduction to Cross 

• What is Cyclocross (Better Video)

View of the course from the top, has more elevation change that the pic shows.

Little jaunt through the woods, well because we are all MTB'ers at heart.

You can see some of the topography here.

You rail down this berm, gets fast in sections for sure.

Little snap shot from the bottom.

The Run UP! Made my legs feel all weak-like.. (Racers, this run up rivals DeStad in Leavenworth and Cross off the old year in Lenexa)

After the run up, you take a sharp left and have a downhill. WARNING, you better slow down, the second ridge is a launching pad!

This is the downhill from the bottom. You can get enough air on this second ridge to wake up an hour later wondering where you are and who you are if your not careful...

There you have it.... Also thinking about a Wednesday night Cross ride/mini racing if your interested... Just let me know...

FB, FYI

Joetown MTB Facebook Page

If your interested! Anyone know how to do an RSS feed to the FB Page? Derrick???? 

New bridge at the new 'cross course done

Max and I built a bridge at the Devil's Backbone cyclocross course today. Of course, less than 3 hourrs later, some little bast...delinquent...had to do smoky burnouts with a motorcycle on it.. Get out there and check it out before it gets destroyed RT

RIP Bob

"Live life like today is the last day of life you will have. 

You never know for sure if you will see tomorrow!" ~ Bob Bailey

I just want to say how sorry I am to all of those who were close to Bob.
Last I spoke to him, I was shaming him into sticking with his single speed through Krug. Which he thanked me for later...
I think at least to me, why this is so shocking news, is that it is hard to lose someone who was so full of life.. Bob may have been 50 but he was defiantly 25 on the inside!

Biker Down...

Robert Hugh Bailey, Jr.

Robert Hugh Bailey, Jr.

1961-2011

      Robert Hugh Bailey, Jr., 50, St. Joseph, Missouri, died Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

      He was born August 15, 1961 to Robert Hugh and Anna Laura (Tatum) Bailey in St. Joseph.  He remained a lifelong resident.

      Mr. Bailey graduated from Central High School and attended UMKC and MWSU.  He worked as Traffic Manager for Major Brands and most recently worked for Triumph Foods, Inc. He was a member of the King Hill Masonic Lodge #376.  Robert was an alumnus of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at MWSU. He was an avid cyclist and active in the St. Joseph Bike Club.  He loved to play golf and hockey. He officiated for St. Joseph Griffon Ice Hockey Association.

      Survivors: son, Nicholas; former wife, Karen; his parents; brothers, David Bailey (Sally), Don Bailey (Jill); sister, Cindy Lovell (Tim); nieces and nephews; and his cat, Solomon.

      Services: 1:00 P.M. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.  Interment Memorial Park Cemetery.  The Family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.  The Family suggests memorial gifts to Bikes for Tots.

I did not know Bob as well as some of you, but I know he was a riot to be around and will me missed by all.. Hope you can make it out to show your condolences. 

 Bobke even came out to heckle/cheer us on out at Leavenworth CX!!

Spoke Pony!

Spoke Pony was last Sat.... Sucks to be you if you missed it! Which is everyone, Jimbo and myself are the only folks from Joetown who raced...

Results....

Yes, you missed out!

Did you lose something?

Did anyone happen to get home after last nights group ride on the trails only to realize they no longer have a bicycle, but instead a uni-cycle?

My brother is bringing me a wheel that he found last night at Corby pond. Let me know if you are missing one.

Derrick