Thats hot!!

The 2011 Shimano C-35 Carbon tubulars really changed the way the bike looks. This is the new school classics setup. 14.8 lb's as seen.



Road season is here. I feel good and my bike looks even better. Hope everything comes together and I pull some results. Had a short break from the bike with the recent 11th round of winter we are getting. Should set me up perfect for this weekend. Legs feel rested. Will see.

Forest Park crit with FORTYSIX-TWELVE

This past Sunday I decided to do the Forest Park Crit. With my road bike still sitting on its kick stand of a broken fork, the cross bike would continue to get some love. Saturday night I looked and saw that I only had 6.5 hours for the week and new I needed more. Lots more. The only solution to do the crit and get the hours was to ride there.

Sunday morning I set out on my cross bike with two bottles and a camelback full of water, tubes, and food. After battling the head wind, one blow out(blew my front tire of the rim), and homeless people playing air-drums while blasting Guns-n-Roses in the homless community on the river front trail, I made it to my destination in about 2 hours 40 minutes.

After signing up and getting my number pinned on, I spun around for an hour to keep the legs loose. It was pretty warm by the time the race actually started so it felt like a full on summer crit. HOT. Even though it wasnt really, just seemed that way.

2 laps into our 60 + 5 race, I knew my 46/12 gearing would be no where near enough to contend for anything. I guess I knew that before the race even started but I was hopefull I guess...

Half way through I felt great. Spinning my nuts off was great leg speed work but it was frustrating when I would go to shift and realize I was already in overdrive. Fall back in.


Photo my Mike Dawson
Sitting in and going no where.

With 5 to go I was fairly winded just from breathing so much. Legs were good because I hadnt yet pushed down on the pedals really. Just lots of breathing. Which is good. Last lap I got caught behind a crash that actually involved Matt James(went down), and Drew black(came to a complete stop like me but stayed upright, and needs to update his blog). Shitty way for a group of friends to end the last lap.

I put my hand out and helped Matt up. He was ok. Bike was mostly ok. All in all the crash could have been worse. They always could be.



So that was it. Race over and i dont even think I was scored as finishing. No biggie. First race of the year on a bike that was no where near what it needed to be to be at the front for the finish.

Afterwords I grabbed my pack and headed home. Lucky me I had a tail wind for the 40 miles back.

Ride time was 7 hours on the day for a distance of about 120 miles give or take a few. Felt pretty good too.

13.5 hours for the week. Fitness is building and weight is coming off.

Go me.

Drew Ballz, Jeff Co, and the Leadville 100

Riding has been going ok I guess. Not great, but ok. My biggest problem is(was) it being dark or dusk when I get off work. Now that the time has changed I should be able to start adding about 6 to 8 additional hours to what I am currently doing. This week I got 9 so that will put me in the 15 hour range. But probably not every week.

I met up with Drew a couple times to do some Jefferson county rides. The first ride we did a couple weeks ago was pretty tame and about 3 hours. We did another ride Saturday and was 4.5 hours for about 75 miles and it stomped a mud whole in me. This ride was yet again, a reminder that I suck at going up hill. Drew killed me. Maybe my theory of doing base on the flattest roads possible is completely wrong. It seems that way.



I have also be training with the Kettle Bell this year. It really helps with keeping the lower half balanced. It strengthens the hammies and your glute's. My training has had a pretty slow start with the shit fest winter we had. Not worried. My focus for training this year is for cross season. I am still planning on doing every type of racing this year though, but using the racing as high end training. So, 4 or 5 more weeks of base for me when I'm just riding. If I racing obviously it will be racing. Speaking of which, the Tuesday night world championship's are getting ready to start. Pumped on that.

Ahhhh..... the Leadville 100. The great American 100 mile MTB(jeep road) race that is nearly impossible to get into. I have been trying for 4 years to get in. FOUR YEARS!! I signed up for this race once again this winter knowing that I could finish it. Breck 100 is a way harder race and I finished that one...

Well folks..... I got in. After four years I have finally been selected to race the Leadville 100 MTB(jeep road) race. One SMMMMAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL problem. A few weeks after I signed up, I found out my sister Monica was getting married that week. In Jamaica. Guess what race I wont be attending this year? And I'm out the 300 bucks.

Don't get me wrong. Jamaica will probably be a great time. We are staying at a adult only couple's place right next to a Hedonism resort. I really have no idea what we are getting into.




I'm not that bummed out about missing Leadville. Mostly because I don't have to train for it now. Plus, I will be on the beaches of Jamaica with family. Not bad.