Triple D

Just got word from the boss and it looks like I'll be hitting Dubuque with an entourage. No matter how the race goes, and I'll be decidedly at the mercy of the weather rocking 2.25 tires, the entire weekend should be a great time. I've got a great start on the requisite beard.




No posts the lasts few weeks. Been getting out on the bike quite a bit though. Think I have around 300 miles on the Nokians and somewhere less than that (but north of 240) on the nexus hub. I don't really try to keep track of mileage so much this time of year instead relying on keeping track of hours- it's depressing averaging 9 or 11 or 13 mph or whatever the conditions allow. I even deliberately covered my computer up with my bar mitts. I have been making almost every commute by bike and I have stretched a lot of those commutes out to 2 or 3 hours. I feel good riding- Knee feels better now with the gears, ice/snow covered roads and paths have been pushing and improving my handling skills, and generally things are good. I've even hit the trainer for 7 or 8 hrs (I've got the Mamasita on there for now).

Motivation has been high. EXTREMELY happy with the current setup on the Kona. It is perfect winter bike for mixed conditions and is simply enjoyable to ride. It's fun on gravel, fun on snow, fun jumping off curbs, fun riding up steps and comfortable for hours on end. Was worth the 'cost' of keeping the frame (rather than selling on ebay) and the other new bits I added just for the motivation it's given me. Nothing else I own or have owned would have worked as well this winter than this bike.

Christmas has come and gone. Good times seeing the family and some friends. I think I did ok with the gift giving, it seems people were happy. I was lucky enough to get some nice bike stuff which I'll probably post more about as I get it installed.


First snowy single track race is on the 9th. Hoping to get some others from Rochester to make the trip with me. Figuring I'd better go to get a feel for the Mamasita before Triple D. Also plan on making a few snowmo trail rides too (but it sucks that I'll feel compelled to drive to the trailhead in order to do so. I've been trying hard to avoid the car).

Somewhat related- I will end the year with almost exactly 90 commutes totalling 1200 miles. Next year I hope to get up in the 130-140 range. I think commuting is good for my riding and my spirits in ways that are hard to measure.

cup o dirt

1/6- 63 miles on Douglas Trail
1/14- 62 miles on 2009 Almanzo course
1/21- 106 miles to Mystery Cave
2/11- 107 2009 Almanzo to St. Charles, explore, return
2/14- 63 miles to Byron, Spring Valley
2/17- 65 miles soft snow, to St. Charles
2/28?- CIRREM 65
3/12- Spring Training Decorah metric
3/13- STD century- HARD, end of first ever 20+ hr week
3/18- gravel metric (fixed)
3/26- metric to Spring Valley (fixed)
3/27- century, part of a 157 mile ride
4/11?- Ragnarok, only made a metric, fell hard!
4/18- metric
4/24- BALLS day 1, 104 miles
4/25- BALLS 65 miles
4/29- 103 mile gravel ride s of Spring Valley
5/9- Sandwich 50, broke bike/two laps on cruiser! also rode to bars later, metric
5/15- Almanzo- fast for me at 5:45!
5/22- Cheq 100, beyond lost 107 miles
5/29- rode to Elroy, WI 177 miles (dm and dc)
5/30- 67 miles, end at wi dells
6/5- dirty kanza (130ish miles completed)
6/10- rode to Milltown Cycles (110 miles)
6/18 trans-wisconsin 155 miles
6/19- 115 miles
6/20- 83 miles
6/21- 70 miles (ended in Ironwood, so DNF! spent rest of time off there and copper harbor)
6/24- 65 miles on SS around Ironwood
7/27- 151 miles- to Stillwater with Skogen, back to Hastings
7/31- Wausau 24 (team) I got 80 miles in

focused almost solely on XC races for a couple months here...

10/2- heck of the north- 80 miles (very sore back- replaced bike after this)
10/23- 118? miles at Night Nonsense (supposed to only be 90)
10/31- 82 miles at Dirt Bag

that was the end of my "season" so far as I look at things.

now-

11/14- 70 miles, group ride, bw3s etc., pretty easy/slow
11/29- Rode to Royal Wilders grave- 70ish miles

Will likely pick up a few more before the end of the year here as I'm riding more again now.

22 metrics and 15 centuries thus far!






This challenge really motivated me for a large part of the year. Hopefully I can add 3 or 4 more metrics before the end of the year. Now looking back two things really hit me- I sure changed bikes/builds a lot and wow am I ever glad I went on every one of those rides. Looking like I'll have the time tomorrow to try for another!

thanks!

Thanks for the nexus 7 speed internal hub Laura! You got it from Ron for Christmas but let me install it right away. It is making a huge difference. It has allowed me to ride and commute without knee pain no matter what the conditions and weather.

I must also thank myself for the amazing roast. It was a good idea to put it in the crock pot prior to leaving for work. It hit the spot a few minutes ago after I finally got home.

I've been doing a decent job of getting in some hours on the bike and have really enjoying battling the elements. Can't wait for the next ride.

I still intend to do some write-up about jinglecross when I have time- it was crucial that Adam let me crash at his place down there!

I will also tabulate my FAILED "cup o' dirt" challenge. I didn't ride a metric and a full century each month. In fact, I think I realized that would have been an endeavor at odds with my racing goals for a couple of months. I do believe I met my goals for total number of dirty metrics and dirty centuries (plus rode way more paved centuries than I would have anticipated) but in the end I feel like I failed. Hopefully I can find time to tally things up tomorrow while I'm at work as that's where I keep all my ride info.

got a bit bored

‎18" mamasita- magic gearing 38x20, 36x18, 34x16


58cm jake the snake- 40x19, 38x17, 36x15



why would I want SS specific bikes? Seriously, 36x18 offroad on a 29er and 38x17 with 700x40s for gravel are both perfect for the majority of situations for me AND both bikes offer the opportunity to step a bit up or down from there too.

scary that I've got so many chainrings and cogs.

Royal 162

It's 2011 for me.

Today was a special day for us (Jake and I). We made a pilgrimage of sorts to the grave of Mr. Royal Wilder. Big brother to the one and only Almanzo, pioneer and literary figure. His namesake race will be the sort that separates and we figured it was right and prudent to seek his blessing prior to making preparations.

Initially it was a challenge how to approach him. After all, we had no idea if he'd ever ridden a bicycle and surely would never have envisioned his current role. We sought some sort of common ground; a gift which would be salient to both his life (1847-1925) as well as our current endeavors. Without much luck toward such ends we simply saddled up and rode. All the while hoping that the answer would become clearer as the time approached. A solid plan when you consider things so often do when viewed through the timeless lens that is hours upon hours on gravel, fixed.

The wind and sun kicked up and kicked the clouds out around noon. As the temperatures soared into the low 20s we found ourselves approaching without a clearing of the mind. Finally, as though a veil was pulled, we hit 151st avenue and the clouds within lifted. We were approaching it all wrong. We would go before Royal and ask for his support. Nothing more, nothing less. Who had we thought that we were such that we thought he needed something from us. It was only me wanting. He has rested peacefully for years. It was I who had the traveling left to do. It was I who would kneel before him and ask for his blessing with no apologies, no false pretenses.

We collected a few bits of gravel from where His race would be won or lost. These would be our offering, our monument and hopefully our salvation.








Only time will tell from here.







Ride stats- 74 miles, 6 hrs including stops, hr 141 average.