MC Stankles

Another Day Another Ride

2010-04-19T19:15:00.002-05:00

Mondays are MS150 training rides at Whole Foods Market. They are a little different then the road rides I am used to but still loads of fun. Normally when I am on a road ride its all about pace lines, upping your average speed, and of coarse trying to drop your friends. If it is one thing that the DrJ's taught me its that every ride is a race. The Monday rides are a little more chill. And with out disrespecting anyone I am not used to ride where platform pedals are widely accepted. One of the biggest things I knotice with this group is no whinning about saddle position, pedals be too heavy, or how a crapon fibre something or other would really help out on the climbs. Everyone just has fun and in turn it make me want to ride even more.

Warming up for Chub

2010-04-18T20:21:00.003-05:00

It is no surprise that I have not been riding all that much until lately. But I have missed the trails and I have missed the purity of the sport. Don't get me wrong I am not one of those guys who scoffs at riders who rock 9 speed duel suspensions with the latest garmin's. But losing yourself on trails you know by the back of you hand while riding a rigid single speed is by far one of the best feeling I have felt on a bike. Either way you rock it Castlewood is always a good place to ride. However, like any true blue cyclist you need more. For this reason there are new trails and other parks. And as much as I will always ride Cwood there are days were I want a trail that will chew me up and spit me out. A trail where the people out there are just as serious as you are. A trail that is forgiving and yet ruthless. A trail by the name of Chub. I am not ready for a day in the saddle at Chub yet. But, after a few more rides, and figuring out how to clip in again. I will stare down that rocky snake that twists through the back woods of West Tyson Castlewood and Loan Elk, turn up my music, and ride it out.

2010-04-15T21:57:00.002-05:00

I went out to Cwood today which was one of the best ideas that I have had in the past couple weeks. There is honestly nothing like ripping through single track which adrenaline fueled music beating your ear drums to a bloody pulp.

I started out with what seems to be the standard trail selection: Love. I reached the top and headed on to Roller Coaster descending on Grotpeter. From there I headed out to the flats and climbed Blue Ribbon which is torn apart from the horses. I refueled at the car and hit Loan Wolf catching a guy on a geared bike and snapping his wrist. I understand that this could very well have been his first time on a mountain bike. But, it still felt good to not stop while climbing and actually passing someone in the process. I proceeded out to Justin's where I snapped the wrists of two other riders heading up the first climb. Over Ries road to Love and churning up Ranger. My legs where feeling it at this point but I couldn't pass up another turn on Roller Coaster before scortching down Grotpeter to my car, 2 hours and 1800 calories later. It feels good to ride in the dirt.

As you all have noticed I am screening the replies that get posted to my blog. This is due to the lack of respect you all have had for me and what I post. I started this to gain recognition and write about a hobby of mine. Not to become a joke for the rest of the cycling community. If you all don't like this then fuck you. I am tied of being nice and hoping that you all will grow up or get bored and leave me alone. If you do not care about what I have to write about I am sure there is another website you can visit.

Colds suck

2010-03-23T17:09:00.002-05:00

So I thought that I had dodged the nasty bug that was going around work. I was wrong and it sucker punched me right in the face... and the throat...and the lungs. I tried not to let it slow me down and still made all the roller hockey games we had on our schedule the last week. I finally started to feel better to day and met up with G to run an easy 4 miles. It felt good so I continued the work out at home with some core stuff nothing to intense.

I am sad to say that I had to bail on the middle fork ride last Thursdor due to a scratch on my Cornea. Some snot nosed little turd at the blues game on Tuesday night was trying to catch a falling coupon for QD instead he stabbed me in the eye with one of his dirty little fingers. Oh well the joke is on him because I got the coupon and vision is covered by Whole Foods. That free Blizzard will be the sweetest one I have ever had.

Reality hurts

2010-03-10T17:58:00.002-06:00

So I was told this week all that would be in the sky is rain. However, today somewhere between the last episode of Breaking Bad and the Third episode of The Office I realized that it was one of those awesome days where you revoke you right to call yourself a cyclist if you do not ride. So I donned the Lycra, filed the water bottles, pressed play on the Ipod, and headed out.

I did my normal loop into Fenton and back home. It is amazing the little things that forget when you do not ride like being able to clip back in after stopping at a red light, or as the case was today drinking from a water bottle. I tried this seemingly easy task about 2 miles into my ride and ended up in the ditch. I scraped the egg off of my face and continued on my ride. Thankfully without and other incidents.

I was not expecting much from the first real ride back on the road bike so I am fairly happy with my results: 33 miles, 15.5 mph average, 2437 vertical feet of climbing, and 1600 burned calories.

Back at it

2010-03-08T15:10:00.003-06:00

You aren't trying hard enough if you don't crash.

Famous words uttered by none other than Chris Ploch. These words normally bother me when I leave the park after a ride on which I have not crashed. Today I ate it. I spent 2 hours riding the hallowed trials of Cwood and as I descended Justin's my front wheel washed allowing me to practice my body surfing. So moral of the story I tried hard enough.

To bad all the weather forecasts that I heard for the rest of the week call for rain because I am really starting to like this riding thing.

2010-03-06T19:00:00.003-06:00

"A lot of people ask me where the fuck I've been at... Shit I don't know. But I do know I'm back now."

So I really have not been riding much since returning from the Single Speed World Championships in beautiful Durango Colorado. However, since the weather has begun to feel like spring again I blew the dust off of the easter bike and headed out to good old C-Wood. It was amazing to be back out again.

Since I have not been riding I have lost touch with alter ego "Fast Robert" and have been trying to find him again. A have a good Friend who is training for a marathon and has agreed to drag my fat ass along in order to help with my search. I have also started playing roller hockey in my free time which I have to say is more fun than climbing marshall road and just as rewarding. And that is what has been keeping me busy.

So there is the update. Hopefully it lived up to any and all expectations.

And here is a parting shot

2009-08-25T13:51:00.000-05:00

I must say it was good to hear from the Doctor. However the 8lbs he is up I am down plus a few extra and I am starting to the kankle power returning. The Lost Vally Night Relay was pretty sick. Not quite as sick as coach's book of which I only made it through chapter four "Down the Jenkem River on the Cleveland Steamer". But sick like Coach and myself battling to a 4Th place finish with almost 4 identical lap times. Thanks to Mason Storm for setting it up and sitting it out so that we all could race. He does deserve a punch in the nards for it being a geared bike coarse. What was that about? I could smell my chain burning as I spun over the fire roads. Oh well in other news I picked up some new kicks from the Doodz at the hub nothing to sweet but just sweet enough to kick the doctors arse with down in Durango for the SSWC.

Things were good

2009-08-05T13:02:00.000-05:00

Well I was riding more. So much so that I wasn't posting on here. I mean lets face it what would I want to type about rides that I have done when I could be out riding? Well just when things seems to be going great I blew the seals on my Fork out. Since Fox's service department sucks I am screwed for a little while. Oh well time to blow the dust off of the road bike and see if i can climb hills after the awesome short track series we all enjoyed on those glorious thursdor nights. so until I can dig up the money to fix my fork I will leave you with this image to be burned into your heads because it is just sweet. Pe@ce
And this image because i think Coach needs one

nice early road ride

2009-07-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon as I was pouring my brain though the keyboard of one of the mac G5's at school Andy Hodge texted me the plan for an early morning ride. Naturally I accepted. I then invited Coach along seeing as he has been one of the most consistant riding buddies that I have had in the last three years. If Matt ever leaves The Lou I will have to start memorizing roads and routes because, he normally navigates as well. The sheer magnitude of different roads and connecters that combine for routes that he has stored in his head is in fact mind blowing. The one flaw he has is this lust for 13 year ol...Anyway the Three of us set off at 630am and spun around west county. St.Paul to ridge to old state to strecker to 109 to reiger to wildhorse creek to hart to ossenfort to melrose to woods to pierside back to old state and ridge to saint paul and back to the start. 42 miles 16.6mph average 2 and half hours with 3174feet of climbing. I must say it was a nice way to start my day off.

A big congrats to Chris Ploch and his big weekend! Good thing I learned how to ride from this guy but bad that it doesn't show.

The Long Awaited Easter Bike

2009-07-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

Due to how poorly constructed my last post was I though it best to update as soon as possible. Feel free to exhale now (as long as Coach is not within 50 feet) because here are the promised photos of the Bi G Unit, Easter Bike, Pussy Wagon, f*cking gay bike, or whatever it is you like to call my 2009 Kona Big Unit. I had it originally set up with 32/18 but switched to a 17 tooth cog for the first short track race last Thursday. That was an unmarked improvement to say the least. The Truvative Noir Carbon riser bar is a new addition as are the Pink Velocity VXC rims laced to my old DT 240's. Enjoy and I hope to see you all at the next short track race or merely tooling around one of the many fine trails that we have here in Missouri. Don't be shy say hi or flip me the bird either way I'll still be riding my bike and you can't take that away from me. Pe@ce

In all her Glory

The Bling

The 18 tooth drive wheel

When this kid saw my bike he couldn't help but punch his sister

"It looks like a barn with no doors"

2009-07-03T17:25:00.000-05:00

That was the statement made about the covered bridge on the infamous covered bridge ride. I have been felling pretty strong while riding and have had time on my hands so i have actually been getting some miles in.

I started with with 3 mild tours of castlewood in 3 consecutive days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Tuesday was with Dr and Steve AKA Jonathan Cold. Wednesday was solo and Thursday was with and Old friend from Illinois, Andy and his friend Eric. Pretty Mild. After riding on Thursdor it was back to TC MAN to switch to a harder gear for the start of the Short Track Series.

Sort Track is by far the most fun I have had racing period. I say this keeping in mind that I have yet to race Cyclocross. I was stoke and ready to go sitting atop a 32/17. This, I found out pretty much when the whistle blew, was way to easy of a gear for these races. I spun long and hard and came in pretty close to last. I did manage to get one last sprint near the end to edge out a ICCC rider I had been trading places with all race. All in all a good race, good people, and good food. A huge thanks to Pfoodman for once again putting it on.

Have a Happy 4th everyone and blow as much crap up as possible.

Holly Hell its Hot

2009-06-22T09:02:00.000-05:00

For all of you who decided to not show up at MWFTS race yesterday you all missed out on some amazing trails. Mark did a fantastic job preping this coarse and the Re routes were just as sick as the traditional face melting single track that is St.Joes.

The Heat was a killer and as soon as I stepped out of I was sweating. A sign of what was to come over the next 3 and a half hours. I lined up Near Seagal Soldier Jack Tagart (Jiim Valentine) and got set for the marathon start. I had no idea how awesome the trails would be. The pinicle of single track: fast, flowy, grinding climbs, long decents, hard corners to drift the rear wheel around nothing short of perfect.

As we wet into the woods I hoped in behind Eric Schuck, Pfood, and Tagart. I yo-yoed behind Schuck as we snaked though the woods. I finally reeled him in just before he passed Pfood We both caught Tagart who let us around. Pfood and I trade places though the first lap and into the second before I was able to pull away but at a severe price. I had drained my camble back and now only had about 3 bottles left as i cam in from lap two I ditched the pack, Grabbed a fresh bottle, and stuffed a power bar into my face which had melted all over my jersey. The third lap found me churning along I caught two other riders one of which ended up getting away from me on lap four. As I neared the end of the lap I was out of water and getting goose bumps. I grabbed another bottle this one with rocket fuel in it and headed out for lap four at the 2:52 mark of the race. More of the same followed as I was being to lose focus and was getting pretty sloppy. Dwayne passed lapped me close to the finish line still looking fresh. I kept my head down though and made it across the line at 3:39:30 earning a 6th place finish out of 14 starters. I am pretty happy with that and look forward to getting back out on the Bi G Unit. Pe@ce

keep on keepin' on

2009-06-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

My miles are slowly but surely racking up. I now have about as many and everyone had at the end of the first week in January. I seem to have broken that rev limitor that has keep the legs from crushing hills and flowing at a even cadence. The power is returning. I have a little over a 100 miles in the last week. So write home and tell your family that the Robortion is coming.

PS- as of right now i don't have access to a digital camera so no Pics of the easter bike will take a little time to put up.

I'm back...sorf of

2009-06-09T17:50:00.001-05:00

It has been a long time since my scrot graced the seat of a mountain bike. So last week when I finally got my Big Unit Built up and running I was stoked to relearn how to ride a single speed again. Not as easy as I remember from the days of 160lb-riding-everyday-Robort. So I did what would make sense to anyone who hates themselves and signed up with thoughts of sugar plums dancing in my head.

Race Day. I haven't had one of these since the BT epic in October of 2008. After dealing with the butterflies and warming up I lined up in the back of the marathon class near the Doctor awaiting the start of our 3 hour race. We couldn't have asked for a better morning: overcast and raining. The start was pretty normal everyone trying to gain position and on top of the fact that it was muddy made it all the more interesting. I entered the into the woods behind The Doctor, Pfoodman, and some other dude wearing a day glow yellow jersey. I was feeling pretty good despite sliding around everyone corner but so was everyone else. I passed yellow jersey dood and was following Pfood when I slid sideways on a climb and ran into a tree enough to stop me and get my ass passed by 4 riders. The race didn't get much better. The second lap saw the end of the rain but the trail was still very slick and was draining the legs with zero traction on climbs, and well climbs. My first two laps took me 1hr and 4 min I was on pace to complete my goal of 6 laps. On my second lap I passed Dwayne who was having flat trouble and gave him a tube unfortunately this didn't help him out much and I saw him again and again as he walked the trail back giving us all encouragement because he is pro as hell. Lap three sucked just because it was lap three. I finished and set out for lap four they were starting to blend together and the only other riders I was seeing where the Experts, who Rocketed past me on a climb, and some straggling sport riders. Four laps in the books and wondering if I would be able to get the fifth in with enough time to get in a sixth. I grabbed a bottle of Cytomax and that was a huge booster. The legs where coming back around to the point that I saw The Doctor at teh top of a climb talking to Dwayne. He saw me as well and dropped the hammer leaving me with a "Suck It Robort". As I headed toward the line I was almost sure it was after the 3 hour cut off so I passed by my cooler with out picking up any more water. I was then informed that it had only been 2 hrs and 49 min since the start and I headed back out to destroy my sixth lap and complete my goal. I realized after about 5 min that I didn't have any water left. this made the last 4.5 miles very fun. So there you have it the First race is in the books St. Joe'S is next I might do single speed class not sure all I know is that I am back.

It has arived

2009-05-18T14:21:00.000-05:00

Teh Big Unit was just dropped off at TC MAN. And I must say that it looks glorious!!!! more to come so sit tight.

2009-04-28T15:23:00.000-05:00

No news to really report on. I rode into work on back to back days giving myself 80 more miles. Nothing to write home about. I have been meaning to post this vid for a little over a week now so enjoy and this is the bike that I was riding.

Midnight Cowboy

2009-04-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

Good day ladies and gentlemen. Doctor Goscinski here, and man do I have a story to tell you. About two days ago, Robort and I got a call at the TC Man from none other than Tropical Midget Storm Mason. The reason for his call: Midnight Century time. The plan was to meet at TMSM's just before the bewitching hour, mount our road bicycles, and crush out a hundred miles while the competition was sleeping soundly in their beds. Well, everyone but Dwayne anyways. Honestly I expected to see him out for a spin at some point during the evening, but no such sighting occurred, maybe he was out doing Berryman laps. At any rate, shortly after the designated time, TMSM, Nico Toscani, Robort, and I departed and set a course for pain country.

At this point, it is important to understand the huge, enormous amount of shit that I gave Robort as soon as I learned of his intention of going. This one ride would double Robort's mileage for the year so far, a feat that I was sure he could not achieve. For at least two solid days I let Robort have it with both barrels, after all if he couldn't withstand that abuse, there is no way he would survive the ride. All the while Robort assured me that I would eat my words, but the off color and not appropriate for children comments kept coming.

After a warm up lap of Nico and I's Forest Park century course (yes, we really for some reason did a century entirely in Forest Park. I really have no explanation for why anyone would chose such a course of action) We found ourselves headed in the direction of lovely Creve Couer lake via Midland. From there it was the Chesterfield flats, to Hog Hollow (entirely painful on a single speed) We continued in a westwardly fashion on Olive until it becomes Clarkson. I am not sure exactly how as this was only the second time I had been in this area, but I think we took Clayton to Khers mill, to Strecker, to easily the best part of the ride: Shepard. I had done this stretch only once before, and in the opposite direction at that. Nico and I thoroughly enjoyed our 42x16 and 42x15 (respectively) single speed domination of this climb. From there we decided that the only logical course of action was to climb Marshall, so that is where we pointed our bicycles. Finish the ride up with a jaunt down the Grant's trail (which even at 4:00 in the a.m has joggers) through the city, a little ways up the RFT and then back through the city to TMSM's for BBQ and Brews, lots of brews. So many brews in fact, that I awoke at about 3:00 P.M. laying on TMSM's porch to the lovely Mrs. Doctor kicking me and telling me I told Robort I would be at the shop by 3:30 so he could go to school, and that she had come to take me there. Holy shit.

All in all, it was an amazing ride. By the end of the ride, everyone involved had been awake for about 30 hours or so, ridden at least 100 miles, climbed around 4,000 ft., and had a kick ass time. Robort rode strong the entire time, finishing the ride no problem, thereby successfully doubling his mileage for the year. I was after all forced to eat my hilarious, delicious words. The truly impressive part is that Robort showed up to work on time @ 10:00 a.m., he then promptly fell asleep. It's for the better though, all we had to drink was delicious beer (Schlafly APAs and Stouts) and Robort only drinks Zima. Oh, and going to work drunk isn't as much fun as it sounds like it would be.

Rejoyce!!

2009-04-13T17:57:00.001-05:00

For the blues hath made the playoffs. I have been waiting to say that for 4 long seasons now and my loyalty has finally paid off.

In other news the XTRDr Goscinski has offically taken over my blog. However, I welcome him as a co-poster seeing as he has more to say then I ever do.

And now for the mildly exciting news which is more exciting then the first couple of sentences that were written (Except for the Blues making the playoffs. If this didn't send a rush of blood somewhere then you are in fact a homo). I got out for another hour ride that kicked my fat ass. I really hate feeling like this. seriously! Also I started building up my awesome wheelset of death (My death that is because they will undoubtabley fail while I am trying to ride over my head during a race that my only preparation for was complaining about not having ride time and eating as much chocolate, chicken and sugar free energy drinks as I can in a 24 hour period.

AND NOW TO ADDRESS THE NAME CHANGE. Myself and the Doctor ordered some bars from Truvativ namely the Noir World cup (I purchased a riser and the Doctor a flat bar). On the shipping address I entered in Robert "Kankles" Metz. Well the creative minds at Sram Corp. Decided to have some fun with this and sent the package to:
Thus proving how awesome they are.

Doctor Goscinski's Amazing Blog Suka!!!!!

2009-04-09T11:06:00.000-05:00

That's right ladies and gentlemen, your Doctor's blog has grown too badass to be contained by the comments section any longer. It's spilled out to the main page. Holy shit. Actually Robort just left himself signed in on the computer at work. You'd think he would learn after last year when I posted as him coming out of the closet on STLbiking. The Ouachita Challenge is a race worthy of an honest to Energor blog post anyway, so here goes.

This year was my second go at this race. Last year the race itself was the longest MTB ride I had ever been on, I had no idea what I was getting into. This year I was much more prepared, knew what the climbs would be like, and knew what to expect from the giant cyclocross barrier known as Blowout Mtn (great for working on your mounts and dismounts). Our pre-ride the day before the race had me pretty excited to get started, the trail was super buff, and there was a fair amount of climbing before the single track to split the pack up a bit, which is great if you are on a single speed. After having a kick ass time camping with Team Trail Monster we packed up and made our way to the race. Starting time found Nico, Tropical Storm Ma(rio)son, and I at the back of the pack talking with some Cow-Town dudes. As soon as the roll out began we implemented our strategy of passing as many people as possible before entering the single track. I could see Nico just ahead of me spinning his nuts off and bobbing and weaving through the pack so I followed his lead. Going into the Womble I was in a good position, 3rd or 4th of the Single speeds, and I was feeling great. Then I got a rear flat. As I sat at the side of the trail fixing it I watched a good deal of the people I had pushed past on the initial climbs go past me, what a sinking feeling. I got it going as quick as I could and tried to make up some ground. It really makes a difference riding closer to the front of the pack, the faster dudes ride the technical stuff cleanly, and keep the pace consistent. Having to re-pass so many people can really slow you down.

After the 1st aid station I hit the highway by myself and started spinning, man was it windy. After what seemed like an eternity of highway and fire roads I was glad to see the single track again. The Ouachita Trail section of the race is absolutely brutal. While you are praying for single track on the fire roads leading up to it, you are praying for fire road again by the end of it. Steep, rocky, and relentless, but soooo much fun. The descents are as mind blowing as the rock gardens are ankle braking. On this section I finally started seeing people again, after being alone for miles. I was able to pick off several riders on the Blowout, and Big Brushy sections. I recognized a lot of the trail from the previous year so I knew when I was getting close to the end. The trail popped me out on the last fire road section and I hammered all the way back to the finish, dropping three more geared riders in the process. Nico greeted me at the finish line with pizza and a fresh PBR pint. I took 6th in single speed and 59th overall with a 6:30. This is the same amount of time it took me last year, but with the course being 10 miles longer this year with 1,000 more feet of climbing I was pretty pleased.

Things I learned this weekend:

1. It would take about 45 PBR pints to replace 9,000 calories.
2. TSM is a cuddler
3. Nico does have an odor very similar to rancid month old Sonic
4. Don't get flat tires
5. Having a sweet mullet makes you go faster

Monday found us rolling back to the STL in an extremely foul smelling Toyota, almost as sweet as my new whip, which can been seen in all it's glory on the Team Seagal page along with TSM and Nico's glorious race recaps. Until next time, don't be a dick. Oh, and check the Seagal page here:

The 100th Post

2009-03-27T15:59:00.000-05:00

That's right in the same year that the Montreal Canadians celebrate their Centennial I too celebrate mine. I wish it were something more exciting then informing you that I rode from Tc to Loan wolf and back again. stopping at the bank and whole foods for some tasty Blue Cheese Buffalo chicken sausages (If you haven't had one I suggest you put one in you mouth soon and often).

I would also like to point out that in Mason Storm's last comment his spelling and grammar where far worse then mine (in that post). As for the GF, she is real and gorgeous so stop your hating.

In other news I found a picture of Davey B eating his post workout meal.

Pe@ce

Wordnorsdor

2009-03-26T14:22:00.000-05:00

I got out on the ro-ad bike last night after work for a solid hour. Headed down Antire toward 44, hooked a left toward the Police shooting range and the quaries, then cut under 44 at lewis road, and did 4-5 laps of Route 66. I Salted in a couple sprints for flavor and headed back with with the finally of climbing my entire hill (I normally stop at my house). Nothing too hard just taking another step.

I was pleased to see three legit comments on my last post. However, I feel a large void with the XTDr no longer posting on his blog.

Word to your Mothers.

Im at the bridge

2009-03-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

Since being back in school and trying to work full time I knew that my cycling would have to be put on the back burner. I watched as my weight went up and my fitness went down. Many (and by many I mean all three of you that read my blog) know this as a skyentific fact. I knew I was sliding down the muddy hill into the bog of obesity knowing full well the ever looming season was going to be a pain fest for me. "I will cross that bridge when I get there." became my motto. On Saturday set a my size 10 shimano m225 attached the a gargantuan kankle on that rickety bridge.

Alpine shop and namely Uber fast and newly appointed 29er crew racer Chris Ploch was cool enough to hook me up with a Gary Fischer Hi-Fi. A pretty sick ride which I took out to lost valley with Pfoodman, Thrasher, and Eric Schuck. The old guys showed me what was up and left me churning along gasping for breath through mucus encrusted lips. I was beaten but not defeated. and on Sunday after work was back out on hwy94 riding with a reinvented Matt Hoffmeyer who has attacked fitness, captured it, and forced it to live in his basement and wear a gimp suit. He also showed me what was up (Hoffmeyer not the gimp).

After the chord stopped glowing bright red I realize it felt f'ing good to be back out on the trails. Looking foreword to taking another step.

How I hate the pane

2009-02-24T13:38:00.000-06:00

I got off of work on Sunday will all the intensions of building up and nice shiny ghey set of mountain bike wheels. So maybe not brand new since I am using my DT240 hubs for the simple reason that they still rock and also because I have not broken them yet. Which wasn't the case for the Kings that are awaiting servicing from a man. More on the new wheels when they are built. But Sunday evening found me doing other things

Whats this you say he is complaining school beating his free time into non existance yet he is building up a new set of ghey wheels? Shouldn't he ride a bike first and regain the very low level of fitness that he once clutched to the day he won Winghaven? Ah good reader you are right in you assumption but your lack of knowledge is what makes you the reader and me the writer of this boring and unimportant tale. Sunday was my longest ride ever. By ever I mean this year. I 2hours and 30 or so min later I found myself gasping for breath in the dark as i rolled down my driveway with 39 miles under my lycra tights. I would like the thank the XTRDr for helping my make the desision to go ride instead of build up my wheels and for the soap on a rope it makes removal of said soap much easier.

Clothes teh Poles

2009-02-17T11:19:00.000-06:00

Yesterday at 4:15pm I got on the road bike and embarked on a nice little lollie (you wish matt). So whoever was the closest to February 16th wins the all of the money that I am sure was bet on how long I would complain about not riding and finally man up.

It seriously hurt. 23miles at just over a 14mph pace through some of the jefferson county hills. It was no 93mile death march on the major summits of west county but it damn near killed me. It was more like a French asualt during WW2, I just couldn't raise the white flag fast enough. However, inspired by the XTRDr I am planning a smalled flatter ride from school today. Be prepared to whitness a Robortion this season it will be brutal.

Huffing FING SHT Batman

2009-02-15T14:17:00.003-06:00

I never thought I would ever see the day when my friends would group up against me in order for me to breath the waste that destroys life and the business of TCman (If have never heard the story of minister getting blamed for a forty foot creeper then I pitty you) But lets face it I was gifted with an Iron stomach that has allowed me to see Hoffmeyers face when i ate a roach for $5. And made $10 eating flies at starbucks. However, human waste is another issue altogether. As the price rises so do the stipulations. Truth be told I am no closer to huffing the poo gas then i was the day the idea was first brought to me by one of Energor's prophets. The question is how high is everyone willing to stack the pot.

the parasite

2009-02-04T15:36:00.000-06:00

well i kind of figured that all the poop talk in my comments had killed my blog (I am well aware the real reason was my lack of riding and my overwhelming stock pile of excuses for not wanting to ride.) However, Doctor never gave up and has shocked my blog back to life with a jenkem fueled defibrilater. Now all i have to do is get the bike back between my legs and figure out how to climb hillz again. Speeking of riding the paperwork for the Big Unit will faxed out before the end of the week just waiting on some funds to be freed up. On that note I will have to pass on the $50 in excange for huffing jenkem for 2 main reasons. First: I would hate to be test positive (after winging say winghaven) for doping and secondly I now have a girlfriend (proving that I AM NOT GHEY) and she said no (she is part german but has become to americanized). So yeah I out~

pre-pare yourself

2009-01-27T10:48:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to get myself back into the mindset of working out. I still haven't been on a bike in a few months that will change and change in a Big way. I am challenging myself in a new way for 2009. Hopefully it will get my ready for domination in 2010!

the new post

2009-01-04T15:36:00.000-06:00

So here it is; the truth. I have been sitting around doing nothing since Arkansas. That was mid november. I went to the gym twice and have run once. I am burned the F' out! School killed me and coming after a season of broken parts bike parts and last place finishes I turned to the refuge of inactivity and my old friend sweet chocolate. So this is the update. hope you all enjoyed it. Now its time for taxes and filing for student loans. Cheers to a shinny new 2009 that dangles over our heads like a giant razor blade.

Santa isn't real.

2008-12-14T14:42:00.000-06:00

I am terribly sorry if you had small children that were in the room when you pulled my page up. But an over weight dude that lives with a bunch of elves at the North Pole, flies all over the world giving gifts to only the good children of the world does not exist in a tangible form. The spirit of this imaginary person does exist in the hearts of parents who once a year have to prove to their kids that they actually love them. It is not enough that all year long they sacrifice their hopes and dreams to work at jobs they hate, drive cars that are anything less then the GTO they dreamed of owning, and hemorrhage money for food, clothes, and other material items that will be discarded when the Johnson's kid get something newer. That said, I do live Christmas.

Not so much the people that embrace this horrible corporate image of bigger, better, brighter that we have been slowly forced into over the years. Its these people that really bumb me out. Even more than the kid who gets socks from grandma instead of a Wii. I deal These delinquents and their parents (who were delinquents as children themselves) at both of my jobs. I normally brush their behavior and ignorant questions off and go on about my business. However, today one customer brought in her attitude and ridiculous question and I just could not let it go. The conversation went as follows:
"Do you have bikes for a small child and what size would I need?"
As I tried to formulate the best answer i could for her as confused look was displayed on my face. Due in large part to the fact that the definition of a small a small child is relative and how am I supposed to know the right size for someone who is not present. Before I was able to answer she vomited up more information to help the obviously incompetent sales punk.
"She is about 37 inches"
Once again I am given information that is worth about as much as POGs. Her child could be anything from 34-40 inches tall which greatly changes the size of the bike. However, I resort to her tactics by giving her just as vague information back.
"It sounds like a 16inch wheeled bike or a 20inch might be what you are looking for but without actually sizing her I cannot tell you for certain. Different manufactures have different frames and sizes to help fit children as they grow." I smirked on the inside like Peewee Hermon before he was cuaght.
"Well how is Santa supposed to bring it to her if you have to size her?" She said it like Paris Hilton talks to the media.
I wanted to replay "I don't know maybe you shouldn't lie to you kid, lady." However, I settled with a slightly different answer.
"It not up to me to answer that question. It is a safety issue if the bike is not sized right. That is why we like to have the child present when it is purchased."
As she turns to leave she mumbles something that sounds like "Yeah. You and every other bike shop doesn't want to sell me a bike for Christmas."

It brought a tear to my eye as she climbed into a huge SUV and drove off into the cold in search of the perfect size bike for her daughter, who in all actuality, probably would rather have a Hanna Montana track suit or the Johan's brothers CD more than a bike. I wasn't crying because I felt bad that I couldn't help make this Christmas better then last year's (or better then the one here dad and step mom would give her) I was truly disgusted with the fact that this is what Christmas means to people. I am not going to go into what Christmas means to me because that is lame. Instead I am going to tell you to go the CX-mas unless you want to be weak sauce and run around complaining to sales people who really don't care about you or your kids. Because CX-mas is going to be a bunch of rad people who see Christmas for what it really is.

PS The first person to translate to what Nazi Santa is saying gets a six pack of your choice

I havent done jack....CUZ IM NOT GAY

2008-12-10T12:43:00.000-06:00

First off I am sorry that I have not posted since October. I am sure that you all have missed Casey Ryback's duty updates. Basically I have been being a good student. You know staying up late studying and working hard on projects. This go getter attatude was left me with no time to ride and even less time to work out. My lack of fitness was made evident by the personal training session that I had. My personal trainer was was this little chick who was about 105lbs or pure steel toed boot. The summery of a 25min work out was a max HR of 190bpm and feeling like i had to puke 3 times. I loved it. So now with the new year about 21 days away It is time to start eating better (or not eating at all) and working out more. Next semester should give me more ride time so hopefully i will be able to see some of you more then i have. pe@ce

The BT Epic

2008-10-31T10:47:00.003-05:00

Three short years ago I started racing hill bikes as a lowly pee-on in the beginner class. If you had asked me then to ride 55 miles my response would have been "Like in a week, dude?" yeah I talked like that it explains why I didn't have any friends. A lot has changed for me since then. I use the term dude sparingly and only in it literal sense (a hair on an elephants butt). Also I has taken to the masochistic ritual of racing endurance races. I raced three 50+ mile races this season and loved each and everyone of them. Most recently being the Berryman Trail Epic put on by the Springfield Cycling Club and they did one hell of a job.
The start of the race was at 830 and just a little below perfect temperature. The DRJ power house had a nice showing of riders (Wes, Chris, Jim, Tom, Scott, and myself). Everyone was stoked to be out there as we goofed around and acted like mountain bikers on the line. Around 8:30 some Dude, who had been telling us what to do, yelled go and everyone decided that was a good enough start for an all-day-in-the-saddle-race (Just the clarify all day to Chris Ploch is 4hours and 42min.) We fallowed the race car down a paved road and onto a gravel one then we were directed onto another gravel road which we climbed for about three miles. I was warming up and feeling like I had some gas so I stepped on it and entered the woods around 20th. Not to shabby for a fat kid who has not been ridding his bike. I was rocking out to my Race day 2 play list and managed to pass a few guys before the 10mile check point or as I call it the place of disaster. Heading into the check point we had to cross a creek which had a very sketchy bridge build over it that we had to walk. I did this then hopped back on the bike to ride the thirty feet to pick up my shinny yellow zip tie. Some how I managed to cut both side walls in this short stretch. I flipped the bike upside down and began to watch my place get closer and closer to the rear. I got a new tube in the front tire borrowed a floor pump and soon found out that as some random dude said "you've got problems" he almost had a punch in the face after his Einstein epiphany. The tube had a puncture so I began the process over again (with a tube that had a patch on it). I got the Gu packet in place and once again began inflating the tire. This time I had success! I check the back tire and the Stan's No Tube had worked by sealing the cut (or so I thought) so i inflated it, grabbed two cookies and hopped back on the bike. Up the road and just into the woods the rear tire was flat again. I reached for my third and final tube. It was a 26 I ride on 29s. Good thing rubber stretches or I would have been screwed and there would be a lot of bastard children running around. With the tire seated I hit it with the CO2 and actually looked like I knew what I was doing. That is until I flipped the wheel over and realized that there was a rock wedged in between the tire and the rim. I let out all of the precious air and then hit it with the CO2 again. I didn't have enough to inflate it fully so I bummed a mini pump one of the last racers that I had seen in the last 10min in topped it off before sending him on his merry way chock full of good karma. I packed up my trash and made a note that I had nothing left with which to fix flats. I had to ride uber clean! That said I put the bike back on the trail and realized the front tire was in fact flat again. What now? Well I believe the last two riders of the race where just getting ready to pass me and they gave me a 26inch tube and the use of their mini pump. I changed the tube (I was really good at this point) thanked them and head back to the check point to Catch a ride back to the cabins. HELL NO! I haven't DNF'ed all season I wasn't about to start now. I did go back to the check point to top off my tires with the floor pump and more cookies. Needless to say I was frustrated. But I took that frustration and threw it in the frying pan like butter when i grilling pancakes and melted it into sweet savory goodness.
My play list was still rocking so I set the pace fast enough to catch people. Which I started to do. I gained back about 10-12 places as I clawed my way up the climbs, ripped my way down descents, with a smattering of flossing in the flats. The trails where in amazing shape and the weather was perfect for a long fall ride. I was still grinning (my race grin is crusted drool around a gaping mouth) as I climbed up to the last check point, picked up my back zipp tie, and was told that I looked fresh. My guessing is that old boy told every racer that but it helped give me a boost as a pointed the bike down the 3 miles of grave road that we had climbed that morning. 6hours and 37min was the official time that I crossed the line. I was beat and just wanted a shower and some food.
This race is already on my calender for next season so I suggest that you make it a point to be there as well, otherwise you can be weak sauce for another winter.

Welcom to the Future!

2008-10-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

As many of you know (and by many I mean 3 out of the 5 people who read my blog) at TC Man we grill for lunch almost everyday. As things have progressed and the common man has develorped grater control of fire we have branched out from pig lips and assholes. One of our greatest achievements was the chicken sausage braukito. The recommended way to prepare this delightful treat is to purchase Jalapeno chicken sausages from trader Joes wrapped in a whole grain tortilla with pepper jack cheese and Maull's Jalapeno BBQ sauce. Once this little bit O' heaven has parachuted into the cavern below your lungs and heart you can thank the lack of customer flow at our store for giving you this Nobel peace prize quality treat.
Another wonderful thing that the good old fire pit as sparked is us seeing how many times we can grill in one day (I believe the record is 3 in a 10hour day). Because of this we normally grill breakfast on Saturday mornings which normally brings the rather large (I am being nice) hair stylists out the back door to our stoop to drool and comment on how we eat so much yet are so thin (It call riding a bike aka exercise). Today we set out to let God guide us on our fiery journey through edible bliss it ended next to the Pillsbury section of the freezer of schnucks. BATTER BLASTER. It is an organic pancake mix in a nitrous oxide pressure can much like ready whip. Not only can you huff it but is make the pancakes that French royalty ate before they had their daily white flag raising. I am sitting here wishing it was breakfast all over again so I can enjoy the pure ecstasy of cramming handfuls of syrup covers chocolate chip pancakes into my mouth (Can you tell I was a fat kid). I urge you all to purchase this product and will be looking into getting them as a sponsor for the 2009 season.

Stars @ Blues 10/16/08

2008-10-18T00:36:00.001-05:00

I was there. I witnessed this. The let down of missing the home opener was tough to swallow but worth the burnin'. My first game this season was the blues forth and third home. My seat was 4 rows from the top but I was in the house and that is all that mattered. Goose bumps infested my skin when Charles Glen began belting out "Oh when the Blues go marching in." and the blues delivered. Many stood on his head and every line scored. We taunted Turco which got in his head and allowed out team to score on him 5 times (ok so it might have been the back to back games with the traveling but still he did wasnt happy with the erie chant of TURCO...TURCO). Boyes have goals in all four games as does Tkachuk and Kayria has 9 points. We are hott and we are definently going to have an awesome season! Will you be a part of it?

2008-10-15T16:10:00.000-05:00

Some dude snapped this photo of me at burnin' and it looks like I know what I am doing. So thank you to whoever you were crouching in the leaves on that first corner I owe you a beer.

Feel the Burnin'

2008-10-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

OH MAN OH MAN! Mesa Cycles out did themselves again. This race would be fun even without all of the hard work that they put into it. However having real time scoring, giant checks for the winners, an endless river of golden American Pabst, and Leadville style belt buckles for the winners will keep us mountain bikers, and what few roadies showed up, talking till next October.

THE RACE
I volunteered to be the first man up for my team. This does not seem like a big deal until you factor in that the start is la mans style with everyone from every category starting at once and running around a field to their bike which you are hoping has not been stepped on or have a smoke bomb near it. I was still waking up when the horn ripped open everyone nerves and we started sprinting in out carbon fiber race shoe that were designed for only one purpose. I got to my bike which was next to a smoke bomb and headed down the paved road at 30+ mph looking about about the 10th spot heading into the woods. I blew up like and kept getting passed. I was deep in the red and horribly shaken and never settled down. Fearing flats I had way too much pressure in my rear tire and was spinning out on the short yet wicked steep gravel climbs. Nothing went my way and I crashed hard twice one time tearing my rear drerailuer cable housing leaving me without some of my high gears. Not a very good foundation for my team of Scott and Mark. Both of who did awesome out there and kept it interesting.
My second lap I felt like the afterburners were finally engaging. After going over the handle bars on the first rock in the woods I found a groove. I was railing corners like, scorching the earth on the descents and keeping my momentum through the climbs. My music was blasting though my ears and straight into my muscles and was feeling fast.
Lap three I came out of the gates pissed at myself which means I was going all out and going to hold it till the legs exploded in lactic acid and which point I would have pedaled with my hands. The bike however was to thrilled with my over zealous riding on this lap and the rear tire when flat in mile two of the twelve mile lap. As a thank you for asking if I was okay or if I needed anything, by all who passed me I dropped the hammer and caught all but one of them (Dan Furhman) before crossing the line.
Scot had a flat and a mechanical on his night lap which kept me from going out on a forth lap which I was really counting on. But that is racing you prepare and you lay it all on the line and if you can say you had anything left then you really did not race. As for myself and my team we had nothing left at 9:30pm when LB (Mark) rolled out of the woods and across the line. I would not have traded anyone of them for anyone else and an stoked that I got to be a part of this awesome race.
Big shout out the DRJ racing's A team of Chris (Fastest Lap at 59:59, Wes, And Bob, who had an apocalyptic battle on their hands and emerged victories with those shinny belt buckles and bragging rights for another year. D-Wayne putt his heart into it and smiled like always. Mad respect for your insanely hard season and 9 grueling laps. Jim, Reevis, Tom, Jon, and John also threw it down like titans proving once again that DRJ Racing is like legendary like the yankees except everyone likes us. Ninja Dave came in with 5 laps in six hours and earned his belt buckle too then gave me a trade mark over the head low five making me feel just as pro. Thanks again to everyone for the words of encouragement, the competition, the stories, and most importantly making this race rock like new years 1999.

DARKNESS

2008-10-02T14:43:00.001-05:00

1. the partial or total absence of light 2.wickedness or evil.
So there you have it night time in the woods it evil. Well then get be a black cloak and an alter because I enjoy riding bikes in the dark. You are forced to ascend to a higher level if you want to come back from a night ride with all of your blood still flowing through your fragile veins. Friday the 26th of September Castlewood hosted a night ride so I did the logical thing and charge my batteries. We (Jack Tagert, Casey Ryback, Jay Tiegs and CO.) rode all of the familure trails. The trails that we bomb down without thinking because they have been burned into whatever part of the brain controls the memorization of mountain bike trails. This time they were all different. It was as if the trails themselves where serpents that had been in hybrination until now and were furrious that were were riding down there spines while our HID light blinded them. I loved every second of it. So when the post went out on the DRJ message board that we would be doing a double ranch ride one being shrouded in wickedness. I once again had to call on my logic to get myself to ditch school and load up the trusty Niner. The first lap hurt. The second lap hurt worse. mostly due to being the slowest of the four team members (Bob, Wes, Jim, and myself). However, it was good race day practice because as we know BURNIN' AT THE BLUFFS is October the 11, 2009. The two hard laps equaled to about 25miles which wil always equal volcano tacos from TB on the way home.

What it is What it is

2008-09-29T11:43:00.001-05:00

I am sitting here at Starbucks with about 17min till I have to clock on. One of my teachers decided that they just didn't need to show up for a 3hour studio art class at 8am. If I make that decision my grade suffers if he makes that decision he still gets paid. If you can't tell by now i am just a little hacked off so lets look at the positive: I was given the gift of 3hours of homework time, it is one more day checked off of the list of 32 (2 classes a week for 16 weeks) bringing the magic number down to 24, and lastly it is a good chance for me to complain about people. See now I feel better.

Now for the cycling update.

DT Swiss 240 hubs rock! Well mine did anyway I need to figure out why the cassette bodies that I ordered aren't working. Once someone explains what i am overlooking they will once again rock the trails here in Missouri and beyond. Till then Bob was kind enough to loan me a spare wheel. I was expecting a pretty decent beater. what I received was a Industry 9 laced to a stans rim already to roll with a maxxis crossmark tubeless tire. If you have no Idea what i just said be thankful because you are not crapping your pants. I9's are sick the wheel is uber light and feels like I am riding on a solid disc. Thank you very much Bob!

ZOMG

2008-09-20T23:55:00.000-05:00

Say what you will but I have never been to a cyclocross race. All I heard last year is "CX ROX!" So the other other day my mobile blew up and Casey Ryback axed if I wanted to roll out to quaint river town of Hermann Mo. for the oping race of the CX season. I said fo sho. And since Mason Storm had his Shiny new Major Jake in the shop I was stoked all day Saturday to witness the pain fest known as CX racing. It lived up to its expectations and more. It was kind of like when you see a boob though all the snow on that porn channel late at night. Except instead of a boob it was dudes in Lycra and instead of snow it was mud that "smelled like the zoo" or Hoffmeyers wedding. Either way I was exhilarated to the point that i dropped half of my pulled pork sandwich cheering on the always Hollywood Dave Breslin (don't worry Dave I implemented the 10 second-shoe-print rule). All I really have to say is I really want a CX bike so I can see where I fall in the mix. Nice job to Dave, Drew, Matt, and the rest of the Mesa crew looking forward to Burnin'. Also a huge shout out to Mason Storm wearing those killer Team Seagal kits and racing CX for the first time.

2008-09-16T13:50:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here waiting for class to begin. It has been 2 weeks since I got on a bike. Needless to say I am itching to get out and ride. It is a relief that the Chubb TT has been canceled. As much fun as this race would have been I am just not ready for it. That, and Team Seagal's non-race last year would still have been way better.

There as talk among the elders of DRJ that the OZ Epic would be a nice race to dominate. However, I think that Sunday the 21st would be better spent at the Scotch Tape Center at the St.Louis Blues Fan Fest. Go ahead and laugh at me but admission is free and the OZ Epic will cost me precious cash that I already do not have. Not to mention when the Blues win the cup I will be able so I was there through the worst of it.

2008-09-12T20:45:00.000-05:00

Alright so I was wrong as Nico pointed out. But I knew there was a race on Sunday and i figured out where it was before Sunday. I was looking forward to getting out on the bike and the greensfelder coarse is always nice. However, my bad luck continued. I woke up extra early so that I could swap the cassette on my bike for a shinny new one that the chain would pop off of when i laid down the kankle power. This happened at Chubb (happy BLM) and my steer tube of death harpooned my taint Moby Dick style. I was still waking up as I removed the lock ring and tried to slide the cassette off. It did not move. I had put down enough torque in the riding i had done that the cassette splines had dug their way into the cassette body I worked on it for about 30 min before giving up. I headed out to the race and called numbers for Bill Howard and gave my support to my team mates. Oh and I got to hold EP's jacket and arm warmers which smelled like Australian gold. Not the way i like spending Race day but why not support the sport if i can not partake? Moar later. Until then enjoy this clip.

Chub

2008-09-02T10:42:00.000-05:00

This trail sucks! However, this is way all of us love it. Its that one bull at in the PBR that everyone wants to tame but when you are sitting on its back you are thinking one thing "Am I stupid? this is going to be awful."

I have not be out to Chub since the beginning of the season, so with the Chub TT looming now just a week away I figured i had to man up. I have been getting out there early due to school and work. both time we completed the the full lollipop loop in about an hour twenty. Not bad but no sub hour madness. We will see what the adrenaline pumps will be able to do next sunday.

not your average group ride

2008-08-25T13:13:00.000-05:00

Sunday rolled around and I found myself with a morning off. I decided that it would be a good time to resurrect our TC Sunday Morning Road Ride. The dynamic duo of Casey Ryback and Myself where joined By SSGT. Tiegs from the Army Recruiting station next to the shop. We headed out at 815am which is a bit later then we had planned but still gave us ample time to do a tour of west county before returning to open the doors at high noon.

We ventured up Sulphur Springs cut through some subdivisions to Ries enjoyed a quick lap of Castlewood where I was cut off by an old grumpy Navy Veteran. Back on Keefer Creek to St.Paul continuing on Ridge. I am trying to recover from a cold and my breathing was suffering as we neared Old State. I coughed up everything I could as we stuck out through Lake Chesterfield to Old Manchester. Matt was bombing the down hills and put a gap on my as we descended Woods. I have not felt confident on negative grades in almost a year. A quick stop at Smokey the Bear to refill bottle and it was time for the pain. Melrose, Doberman, Orville and Khers Mill were the final climbs back to Baxter and the hammer fest back to the shop.
18mph average for 42 miles. Always enjoy this ride I have next Sunday morning off as well if you are interested let me know because I am sure we will do something similar next Sunday as well.

Cyclewerks Cr4nkF3st

2008-08-21T15:22:00.000-05:00

I love the coarse that the good boys of Cyclewerks down in Cape hae created. It is fast if flows and it does its very best as kicking you suqare in the lycra covered keester. The Dr.Js met at Wes's house and and headed out. Chris, Jim, Scott, Wes, and myself were all ready to rock seeing as we were the only people who were signed up . A close call with the Highway Patrol and passing fellow racer and resident old guy Tom Albert and were were slidding into bibs and applying chamios butt'r In no time (not to eachother 'cuz we aren't gay...not that there is anything wrong with that).

Considering how mild the weather had been it was hot on the starting line. Everyone chattered about Dwayne and Keeven runing a 12hr solo and a 6 hour solo the day before and still racing today (Dwayne 3rd and Keeven 1st). We lined up and waited for an unusually long time for the gun (by gun I mean offical yelling go) to sound. It came and the rain came with it. Rian in the form of spinning legs, whizzing chains, and giant drops of sweat. I was started in too low of a gear and peaked on the climb heading into the woods. I was looking forward to railing the berm that was a new addition this year but found out quickely that the fast line was on the inside as two cyclist past me one being Mike Teiber. It was now offically on. I reeled them back in as the pulled up on Scott and the four of us rocked though the woods like Rage Against the Machine at the democatic national convention. Somewhere along the way Scott go passed by the cyclewerks rider and Jim Krewet caught us and proved he was still in shape by gapping us before we popped out onto the sidewalk around the halfway mark. I big ringed in and set my lazers from stun to kill hitting the small grassy climb back toward the woods at warp seed and passing Teiber and Scott to suck right up on Krewets wheel through the S-turn. I was trying to lay the hammer down as was everyone else Krewet got way as Scott and I dropped Tieber.

During the second lap Tom albert (Who missed the start) caught us and politely asked for a pass I gave it to him and watch him waste me. An endurance rider caught up to us and proceeded to ride two laps at our pace giving all of us the urge to push that much harder.

Lap three the bottom dropped out. The whole body was tingleing and I couldnt hold my lines. The is where teammates make the differance because Scott told me to just keep pedaling and kept the presure from behind on forcing me to find my focus angain. Dodd had caught us earlier on in the lap and keeven caught us as we exited the Maze. I was now sitting behind The Endurance rider who was behind Scott. I was coming back aroudn thanks to the Cyto I had stashed on my frame. Lap for and I was back holding onto Scott's wheel through the single track and up the climbs then going for the pass heading into the woods. I started to apply the gas the turbos spooled and I sucked the last bit of water out of my camblebak. I ditched the dead wieght and put my head down giving lap five my all.

I kept looking back trying to see where someone was then telling myself to worry about who is in front of my and let whoever is back there worry about me. This worked I had put a nice gap on who i thought was Teiber but was really Pfood himself. I had to just ride solid for lap six and I finished in just under 2 hours and 3 minuets for a 12th place finish. The results on Cyclewerks page show that I DNF'ed but if you look I had all 20min laps and one 40min lap. Trust me on this I did all six laps and had an average of 11.6mph.

An interesting side note at WORS I raced pretty much the same pace as I did in cape. That just shows how much faster that coarse was because I did not feel any where near as good and relied on the downhills to keep my pace up.

Nice Job to all who ventured down south to race in the dust and heat that make this race one of a kind.

WORS

2008-08-17T18:23:00.000-05:00

I am sorry for the time between post. My schedule has acted as an old flower mill by griding me down in to a fine powder. You can also thank Dave Breslin for giving me crap which is why I sit here pecking at my lap top.

WORS-Sunburst Showdown
I have heard (I don't know why this wont stop typing in bold sorry) a lot about the Wisconsin Off Road Series so when I was asked if I wanted to venture up to Milwaukee to race in the the biggest series in the states I naturally said yes. I did what training I could in the weeks prior to the Aug. 11th race.

Aug 9th we met up at the residence of Mason Storm (Team Seagal) at 6pm. It was myself, Brad Hicks (also a member of the superior single speed team), and of coarse the one and only Mason Storm (Matt Hoffmeyer). Loaded our bikes and gear on/in my Mopar gas friendly automobile and it was on like Donkey Kong. Everyone was tired and I wasn't 100% on the directions so we ended up in Chicago before realizing we had gone two hours out of our way. 2am we arrive at Matt's sisters apartment AKA Best Hotel in Milwaukee and crashed.

Saturday was Pre-ride out at the Sunburst Ski Resort which has created a wicked fast trail network complete with a pine maze, berms you can rail on, a sadistic lung-busting-seeing-spots-do-they-make-a-smaller-ring-then-a-22? climb, and a white knuckle downhill. The actual trial is not very technical with maybe three rocks but when it went into the woods it turned on a dime. We enjoyed two laps and headed back to town for some fine eats and a solid 8 before Judgment day.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! The fruit smoothies went down easy and we set off for the race. As we suited up and made final preparations more and more compeditors showed up. The number of enterants was about 600. As I warmed up I could not shake my nerves and the bike just did not feel right under me. I was in the Elite field which was Pro, Semi-Pro, and Expert. Brad was Comp. singlespeed and Matt raced Comp. Clydesdale. It was pretty cool being on a starting line with 43 other dudes and having them call out the huge names. The horn sounded and Lightning exploded in front of me and I struggled to hold on. The dust was thick as we made the prologue lap but I was able to gain some spots back as we hit the coarse. I pulled back one or two on the first couple of switch backs that started the ascent. I bobbled on a turn and lost three places mid-climb. I was already knew I was in for a long race. Coming down the back side of the mountain my lines where sloppy and I was not trusting my brakes. At the bottom heading into the maze my front shifter started to sick and continued to pleg me for 3 laps. At the time I could not figure out why but when the clamp broke off on the 4th lap I was able to put the pieces together. I let all of this get into my head and started to stress the lines stayed sloppy and my composer disappeared faster then beer at a frat party.

Lap two found me getting my ass kicked by a chick. She was hella fast and super cool and we traded places till the climb on the third lap where I stopped to give a comp rider my spare master link and multi tool to fix his chain (I was hoping Karma would work for me). I was caught and passed by another elite female rider and passed her back gaining a little boost before the line came around again

Lap three was brutal and I just kept thinking okay I only have to go the hill two more times. The down hill was still difficult for me and I ate it on a near vertical drop in. I was fine so was the back so I hopped back on and continued on, getting passed my more comp riders.

Lap four I was digging and trying to stay focused. On the down hill I was pushing the chain into the big ring when the Avid Matchmaker Clamp I had on my shifter broke off and left my shifter to dangle down by my fork. I had to stop to pick it up and held it the rest of the way down the hill and though the maze where I was passed By Brad who was on a party cruise. I stopped again and taped the shifter to my stem. While doing so I was passes back by the second Elite female raider who gave me some encouragement which was a nice booster. As I came through the start/finish I could see most of the Elite field watching me and when I passed the gate and headed back out again I could feel them grimace of me. I rode on getting encouragement from the good folks who were heading down off of the mountain. On one of the sections I noticed Matt a little ways up ahead of me and started to chase the rabbit. However, I was still mentally doubting my ability and zigging when I should have been zagging. I gave Matt all of the encouragement I could through the maze and kept my pace as high as possible trying to real him in. He had his heart in his legs and kept the gap wide all the way to the finish.

It was a hard race to swallow but it was a huge learning experience for me which is what I will take from it. Brad snapped the wrists of the comp singlespeed class beating out the 2007 overall champion and taking 1st. Matt took a respectable second in his class. I took 7th out of 7 finishers and 9 total. Everyone up there was uber cool and I am really looking forward to next season to do more of their races.

update

2008-07-29T04:26:00.000-05:00

Its been a little while since I posted last. for this I am sorry. Truth is nothing has really been going on. Three weeks ago I crashed while bombing down Blue Ribbon and sprained my shoulder so I have been baned from the bike...until today. I am tired of not riding so I am going to see if i can manage a road ride today. I should not have any issues. The shoulder is feeling much better and I am back to 90% range of motion. The main problem is the fitness I have lost in the last three weeks. This season has seriously been a black one for me hopefully I will start to see the light in the last quarter.

THE TOUR

2008-07-08T10:03:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th!!!

2008-07-04T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my corner of the interwebs once again. The rumors of a group ride on July 4th finally became actual plans at 830pm July the 3rd. We were going to follow Casey Ryback though Dtown St.Louis and into Furby's playground. Don't tell him though because it was just too nice a day to "Stay the hell out of Illinois!" Five of us met at Forsyth and Skinker; Casey Ryback ("Guide"), Captain Jack Tagert, Gino, Shop Minister and myself. We cut though Forest Park, jumped on Bike St.Louis trail network, and shortly found ourselves crossing the swollen Mississippi. The weather was beautiful and despite the hammer fest in the rain the night before at Cwood (AKA the Short Track Series which you should be attending) the legs woke up and were ready to lay down some miles. Once we entered the state that's only claim to fame is Abe Lincoln and the worst Baseball team on earth we made short work of their trail system which is head an shoulders better then the previously mentioned baseball team. It even gave us warning of potentially sliding sideways.

I honestly didn't pay much attention to what we were riding on or where we were going because the legs just felt to good to focus on anything else. We stopped off at the Lewis and Clark site to break the law before heading back toward our home state. This is where our coarse and superior attitude were both put to the test. However, we recovered and found an alternate route though hell and high water back to the city that is home to the boweling hall of fame (which is fleeing). Back at our starting point we bid fond farewells and kind sentiments before heading our separate ways.

62miles with a 17+ mph average is a pretty good ride no matter which way you type it. Enjoy this video clip of Casey's Bike after the mud fest.

This is how the ride left me=> => => => +. => => =>

Still single ladies...Call me!

PE@CE~

Dirt Crits!!!!1

2008-06-28T18:58:00.001-05:00

My first mountain bike race was one of the short track races. I showed with a full suspension, cargo shorts, a free ride jersey, and stood out against all of the lycra clad riders on hardtails like a fat kid during dodgeball. I was stoked this year when I heard the short track series was coming back. A huge thanks to Pfoodman for putting this on! Thursday night was a uber rad.

Instead of handing of $25 to pay for a one day licence and entry to the "C" race I forked over $50 to cover me for all 6 "A" races. I lined up in the field with 19 other BAMFs wearing lycra straddling my hardtail (a lot has changed). I was positioned behind Chris hoping I might get a lead out. This was a mistake because he was gassy and the smog before the race didn't help me much. The siren went off and it was time to grip it and rip it. My pseudo hopes of holding on near the front were shattered pretty much when I clipped in but I sprinted none the less as the pack started to spread like jelly on wheat bread.

I yo-yoed with a group of four riders one being a super sport rider Drew Black, another being fellow DRJ teammate Tom Albert, another Mesa rider (they are always a threat), and Mr. Velo Force Pace Setter. I watched as the pace began to take its toll on the guy from Mesa and Velo Force and started digging to get up with Tom who was losing Drew slowly. The road bike must be having an effect because I caught up to him and we started working together for the middle part of the race. I got in front and started pulling as much as I could as we came through the start finish " 24 min and some change" we where told. "3 laps left" I heard Tom say over the pounding of my heart. I asked the legs for more hoping we could pull Drew back in. They answered with a "HELLZ YEAH" the start/finish line came around pretty quickly "29 min and change" the time keeper said "Now three more laps" Tom said with a sheepish tone. I did not have the legs left to hold my pace and Tom went around me. I still had to worry about the Velo
force rider so I kept the self motivation up. I managed to pass Scott on a surly cross bike and he said something about no legs. I came through the start/finish with Tom and Drew still in sight but slid out in the grass and pretty much rode to hold my place from there on out. I have not had that good of a time on a bike since lost valley when I felt like superman flyin' through the sport class. But this post has gotten Dave Breslin (who was mysteriously absent on Thursday) long so I am going to pe@ce out.

2008-06-25T20:40:00.000-05:00

Since I normally have to be at tarbucks at 445am and I get off at the bike shop at 8pm riding from home means I have to leave my house no later then 345am and I wont be returning till after 9pm. The solution to this problem: A semi-commute. I pack everything I need in the back of my MOPAR rocket and drive to sbux. After my shift I don my gear like the portly cycle dork I am and head off to job two at TC. Once my time there is completed I again mount up, ride back to sbux to pick up my hooptie and grab a soy chi for some protein replacement on the drive home. The route to varies depending on how much time I have between jobs. So far this is the longest route I have done.

Two days and just over 70miles kind of weak sauce but I'm getting it back.

2008-06-23T20:16:00.001-05:00

for your enjoyment!

2008-06-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

I gave blood today. And that is not one of those clever tourist trash saying found on a t-shirts you buy after wrecking on porcupine rim. There was a blood drive at one of the local area starbucks. I was scheduled to do a bike safety demo for the kids but none showed up so I let the good folks from the American Red Cross have some AB positive and took the day off from the bike. I was planning on a nice ride but after losing a pint you are not supposed to do anything physical for 5 hours. My blood type is only found in 3% of white Americans and can only be used for other people with AB blood types. If you want to donate click here.

Armstrong, Merckx, Boonen, Cycling Sprints, Crashes

2008-06-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

word!

***tripping acid optional***

Bikes are fun

2008-06-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

So no real new news I rode Chub the on Monday. I had to hammer it because i was meeting some friends for sushi (which is eff'n expensive). Averaged 8miles an hour and only did 7.55 mile due to flooding and time.
I have decided that instead of trying to do a full commute I will drive to starbucks then ride to TC and then back to my car when i get off. I tried this out on Tuesday. Taking a little longer route into the shop 141 to via des pares to clayton to henry. Then the more direct back hanna to vance to 141. Not sure of times because I haven't ponied up the cash for a computer but its all good i just need to log miles. With that I will put an end to my rambling, pe@ce love and phil wood grease!

back on the road

2008-06-15T00:39:00.000-05:00

I finally ordered all of the parts in order to build up my road bike. Friday night I finished dialing it in and putting on the pedals. Saturday was a perfect day to day it out for a nice ride to start my legs back. Chris and i set off from his house and did a 52 mile loop through west county in just under 3 hours. Pretty laid back with some descent hills orville being the crown jewel. It felt good even though the legs lost power pretty quickly and Chris had to slow his roll on many occasions. I'm going to go ride tomorrow, Pe@ce

FFFFSSSSSSSSTTT

2008-06-03T18:29:00.000-05:00

That is the sound made when you open a soda. Now if you do not drink said refreshing beverage once opened it will go flat. And unless it is root beer it will not be refreshing or enjoyable. I am a soda that has been opened and not enjoyed. Sunday sucked for me. 2:15 for 15+ miles with a 6.9mph average. I am seriously having hard time this season.

2008-05-27T10:46:00.000-05:00

As promised long awaited photos of my new race rig. Took her out to castlewood and was having a pretty good ride till this happened. I had an X-7 that I put on so that I would have a bike to ride. The chain is a little short now but whatever. I went for a urban mountain bike ride with Dr. Wesley McClaren from Team Seagal and everything worked well we kept a 15+mph average for about an hour and twenty min. Other then that no news so go ride. First watch this sweet vid.

Beautiful Day

2008-05-19T14:03:00.000-05:00

U2 had it right. That is if Bono was singing about last Saturday which would be impossible since that song was release a few years prior so I guess they got it wrong. Regardless, the 17th was one of those days you just want to spend outside riding bikes. So the bat signal was flashed and the DrJ's headed to the ranch (Well Chris John Matthews and myself). Things where setting up for a good ride: great weather, great trails, and a bike that hadn't had a mechanical in three weeks. Then I got on the bike. I think it was a culmination of still getting used to the new bike, My lack of nutrition, lack of sleep, lack of training and mostly lack of drive to correct any and all of the above. Anyway you want to slice this lemon it was sour. I was pushing through it trying to kept the pace when I clipped a tree with my handle bars and decided my knee and stem needed to become married in painful matrimony. It was the basic "that hurts! is there blood? crap no scar." thought pattern and I kept riding only to bobble a little while later and do the same thing. This time the pain was lingering. On every up stroke I was feeling pain in my knee. I am no doctor abut I do know continuous pain means that things are not working properly. I was able to finish the 13mile lap but the plan to do two laps had to be scrapped. The knee does feel better but still hurts. I am giving it one more day but I cant pass on time off so I'll be at the wood tomorrow.

Super fast Nice guy Dave Breslin took a Top Five slot in the WORZ race up in Wisconsin on the 18th. Nice finish man!

2008-05-15T14:00:00.000-05:00

This was parked next to my car the other day while I was slaving for the man. It is very unsettling to walk out of work and see that the car next to yours looks like it could be a crime scene. I did notice that the driver was courteous enough to double park his vehicle as to no scratch mine when he threw open the door to snatch up his latest victim. I am sure if I had waited around any longer I would have been offered some candy or a ride to back to where my parents were. Keep your eye on America's Most Wanted. Keep in mind it was also repainted by hand.

PS-Trails where muddy today

Home Field Advantage

2008-05-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

This really does not exist at Castlewood because everyone all ride/trains there. However, this was DRJ sponsored race so our logo would have been painted in the center of the field and the fans would be waving big blue and yellow foam fingers, if such things existed for mountain bike races.

The conditions were the standard for this race season: WET. Coming down Lone Wolf I completely drifted a corner. No brakes, both wheels spinning, cranks turning, and the bike moved sideways around the bend. Pretty sick and I felt like a BA till I realized I was still in 9th. I caught and passed Mr. 8 and almost caught Bob who was holding up the 7th spot. I came up on him on the last lap as we climbed Love. Determined to not let the fat kid beat him he stomped on the gas and dropped me until the last down hill where I gained enough ground back to finish only a few seconds behind him. A very sarcastic thanks to whoever yelled "Robert is right there" as I snuck up on him at the finish. Congrats to Chris on again taking 1st for not realy being stoked to race he sure cleans house well!

I used this Race to Officaly unvail my new race rig; A Niner Air 9. I got a deal that I couln't pass up from Craig Basler an up and coming cyclist on the STL scene. I managed to get my hands on a Fox F29 with 80mm of travel to keep the front soft and set it up with an X9 drive train. The wheels have some sweet green King hub that were part of the deal as well as King headset and Easton EC70 seatpost. I switched over all of the other goodies: XT cranks, Thompson stem, Ritchey WCS Carbon bar, and selle XLR seat. the weight is just over 27lb but that cool cause I am no Davey B.

when i locate my Camera and she is clean I throw some actual pics up.

50 miles

2008-05-07T18:47:00.000-05:00

I haven't been training or watching my diet so 50 mile on a road bike sounds painful. 5o miles on a mountain bike seems like suicide. I am a masochist. I couldn't wait to get my new bike (I'll post more later still looking for the camera to take some pics) out and spend some quality time in the saddle. To give you an idea of what I was in for the 15mile pre-ride hurt. I had two flats and watched Chris disappear more times then I can count. Prepping the bike Friday night had me a little uneasy the rear hub wasn't staying tight and I was now low on tubes. I packed everything up and settled in for the night.

Saturday morning was a little chilly but the Burritos chef Scott cooked up where hot and I felt ready too race after my morning glory. Dwayne was more excited then I have ever scene which got me amped and the Gino from Team Seagal hooked me up with an extra tube and I was stoked. I lined up next to Little Buddy ready to just ride.

We were off and the first hill was a killer 9/10 of a mile at an 11% grade. No idea where I was going into the woods and I really did not care. Rocketing along on 29s with some music pounding my ear drums and just flowing through some rocky technical single track. Life was good. Then I flatted right around the 5 mile mark. I checked the hub and it was already loose. I changed the flat and got the hub as tight as possible. I hoped it would last as I started moving through the long line of riders that had passed me as I worked on my bike. No dice. The hub kept coming loose and i had to stop several time to hand tighten it. I was moving along again and broke the master link in my chain. I had packed an extra one and was rolling again after a gu and some mechanical finesse. The trail was amazing it never let up. Rock gardens upon rock gardens followed by technical descents and leg busting-need-a-rope-and harness climbs. In short I was loving it. I got to the last downhill (the same climb we started on), congratulated the guy I came out of the woods with then dropped him as I scorched the gravel at 30mph. I was getting and giving metal fingers and thumbs up from everyone i saw as i came through the start/finish. Keeven, who had destroyed everyone on his Superior Single Speed flash a million dollar grin at me as I passed him. I was toasted and stoked. I was doing what i loved and have missed: riding my mountain bike. 7hr 18min for 50mile and 103 overall.

I rolled up to a table of buzzed DRJ's who were feasting on burgers and dogs. To find out Dwayne and Chris had both had trouble with flats Little Buddy hadn't finished yet and Scott had bee about 40 min ahead of me. I was bummed for My teammate because i knew Both of them had a change for the overall but Chris was still fast enough to win his division so the we had reason to gorge ourselves on Mexican food later. All in all a good weekend of riding with some awesome riders sights are now set on CW race hopefully the legs come back. see you all out there.

wwe Kurt Angle vs. John Cena Battle Rap

2008-04-26T15:09:00.001-05:00

I found this while looking up Kurt Angle just read the post below it as well as watching it in all its sweaty, poorly acted, steroid induced glory.

Pump the Sponcors

2008-04-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hello and good day to all you interweb surfers. I recently stumbled upon something that revolutionized the way i will intake enorgy. One of DRJ Racings many prestigious sponcors is 180 enorgy. As I am a junkie of these extreme sports supplements that have no proven health benefit and only make you dependent on their over doses of caffeine and B12 to stay awake I always enjoy a refreshing 180 every chance I get. Sadly the caloric intake is more then I should consume on a frequent basis. Friday night however threw me a change up. Sugar Free 18o and Low Carb 180 Blue with Acai.

Sugar Free 180
Taste: Very similar to regular 180 but with a hint of aspartame.
Calories: 5 per serving/10 per can.
Can Graphics: pretty sick with the upside down label
Energy Drink story: N/A (what the EF)

Low Calorie 180 Blue
Taste: It tastes like blue and not in a bad way
Calories: 15 per serving/ 30 per can
Can Graphics: A little more chill then then the sugar free still pretty extreme
Energy Drink Story: again no story don't they understand this is the reason I repurchase a majority of energy drinks?

To bring this Coach Casey Ryback taste test to a festering head these new beverages are going to be staples in my nutrition regiment for the rest of the season. They Best part is i scored them on sale for $1.47 at schnucks. "Inexpensive and great tasting?" you may ask in amazement. As gold medalist and WWF super star Kurt Angle would say "It's true. It's true."

Many Thanks

2008-04-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

My hand is feeling much better and I have been able to keep the bandage off for almost 24hrs. A lot of friends have offered me a lot of help during this aweful start to a season. For this I am very thankful. I cannot stress how lucky I am that my friends and the mountain bike community here in Missouri is so rad. Thank you all for offering me frames, giving me deals, letting me vent, helping me get parts, and dealing with me when my mood is no where near pleasant. With out your help I would have hung up the jersey for good.

I should have my new secret MTB weapon up and running by saturday and will put a full post with pics up. Till then keep the rubber side down and let me know if i can do anything for you.

Carnage in Herman

2008-04-20T16:46:00.000-05:00

Warm-up

I wish the title of this post referred to me to me crushing the cat 4 time trial and then repeating with the road race. But, it does not.

This was the first time trial I had ever done and even though I did not scorch the earth like Levi my time of 25:33 was good enough to place me 11th on the ten mile coarse.

The road race started out nicely with sunny 70 degree weather and then went way south for me from there on out. I completely blew up on the second KOM climb and got dropped. I am not sure how much of this had to do with back to back races but I blame it on lack of training and abundance of junk foood. I was determined to hang in there but soon lost sight of the pack. It was now about finishing. I started working with another rider with the hopes we would be able to pick off some of the other stragglers. We sighted one and started to reel him in. We were pulling each other along at 25mph just about to catch rider X. He came around me to take his turn pulling, I caught his slipstream with too much heat, took off like a rocket, and rubbed his rear wheel. One four letter word later and I was telling him to keep going I would be fine. Note the definition of fine here is how females use it when you ask them whats wrong.I ended up with some road rash, a dented frame (suspecting that it is now unsafe to ride), and wounded pride from getting dropped then crashing because of a rookie mistake. On the bright side I did not cause him to crash and I did get sympathy from the female medic that doused me in alcohol.

"Why do we fall? so we can get back up"

Hope everyone enjoyed their Summer like Sunday better then I did.

bored ride

2008-04-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

Crit racing is a rush. The intensity is a 10 for the entire race and you fight to hold lines catch breaks and snatch primes right out from underneath the $5000 road bike of the guy next to you. The sense of power one feels when the blow past a group at full sprint has to be what Zeus feels when he hurls lightning bolts. Friday night i made the choice not to race Saturday. I was feeling very tired, I was stressed, I was uncertain to weather I would be able to handle my bike safely with my wrist, and the all powerful nail in the racing coffin cash is on the endangered species list in my life. So I slept for 13 hours, got up at 11 ate and suited up for a ride. I did not really feel like pushing myself and with the heavy winds, random bullet like rain drops, and struggling 40 degree temps. I was forced to retire after only 37 miles with a 16.7 average. I then ate an entire pizza and went into work for an unscheduled shift. A pretty mild way to spend my day off. Oh well I'll melt my face next weekend at the Tour Of Hermann, enjoy the pics!

Can you tell what intersection this is?

Aright which dirty scoundrel knows what you can find this?

Typical NORBA race conditions

wahcheeta

2008-04-08T19:07:00.000-05:00

I blow stress out of my system when I ride. Maybe that is why I break so many bike parts. 60 miles will blow out more then stress. It can eat your soul if you are not careful. The Ouachita Challenge was epic for me. My goal was to finish. I have been having trouble juggling work schedauls with races and broken bikes which has left me with little or no time to just ride. Well everything came together for me despite the whirrel wind of stress that blew in on Friday. Let me begin at the beginning...

I blew my fork out and toasted my brakes at Rim Wrecker. Monday I spent searching for a new fork. I am a little skepitcle about riding a reba after blowing one out twice. I settled on a Marzocchi Marathon Corsa world Cup and got it order on Tuesday and shipped 3 day air from UPS. I ordered in some sweet Avid Juicy 7's to replace the 5 year old Deore's I was trusting my life with.

Friday found me sitting at the shop waiting for brown with my bike completely disassembled. The UPS truck drove past. I waited...and waited...and waited...then called Marzocchi got a tracking number and located my fork in Des Moines Iowa. I called UPS and was told that if the fork was shipped on Tuesday night 3 day air meant it would not be delivered till Saturday and since they do not deliver on Saturday I wouldn't get it till Monday. Morel of the story UPS sucks because if you do the math there are 3 days between Tuesday and Friday.

I bumbed a fork (A pretty sweet Fox F100) off of Matt AKA Casey Ryback and started throwing my bike together at 5pm. I put her all together and couldn't get the rear Der dialed. Add more stress and I was starting to lose my cool in a major don't-think-I-am-going-to-go kind of way. Enter Drew AKA Sparky a former Co-worker, friend, and Mechanic extrodinare at Ghisallo. Drew ran home and brought me up a set of Sram X.9 shifters and a X.7 Derailleur. 830ish and Airin is in working order and sporting a wicked XTR/XT/X9/X7 drivetrain and running off of friendship so pure that you would have to dilute it under normal cercumstances.

Saturday I drove down with the Seagal boys and their Single Speeds of Supiority and checked in. I got a ACE bandage for my wrist which I had some how sprained and ignored hoping that it would cease to exist if I neglected it. Now it hurt too bad to keep out of my thoughts.

Sunday morning came with awesome weather. At one point I saw God smiling on all 150 riders lining up to put themselves through pain Arkansas style. I kept asking people if they were ready to get awesome as our roll out start moved down the fire road toward the womble trail. Suddenly we were in single track heaven. The womble was in pristine condition. We climbed and descended and hit the pavement. I was feeling great and after chatting some more hooked up with my new found friends for a 25mph pace line to get to the single track faster. This ended up being mistake. I blew up heading up Blowout Mountain which is pretty much pinch flat hell. I was sucking down any energy gel, power bar, fresh fruit, cytomax ect. I could get at the rest stops and was caught during a bindge by Marc and Brad from Team Seagel at the last rest area, 14miles and one mountain from the finish. I started up Big brushy and was forced to walk. I couldn't do this well either and kicked my rear derailleur, bending the hanger and limitting me from using the last cog (something I realized after jamming the chain between the hub and cassette twice). Mud was keeping my front Derailleur from shifting into the granny and I was forced to walk or grind. I did both and traded places with a few riders on the way to the top. Once there the down hill melted my face and gave me new life. I hit the road and again hooked up with another rider and we paced each other. I dropped him later. It was sweet considering how crappy I felt. I big ringed it all the way back on the roads as I drained the last of my cytomax. I crossed the finish line at 5:35 and some change good enough to land me 36th overall. I finished with my soul intact and a pretty muddy smile.

Awesome trip awesome company and one awesome race!

Fork Wrecker

2008-03-31T15:38:00.000-05:00

The first time I ever ventured down to Council Bluffs to ride the epic 13 mile loop I met God out on the trail. At once point blasting around a corner, the sun filtering through lush green foliage, not another person in the world around, and all the concerns in the world far behind me everything seemed to make sense life just seemed right and I was certain heaven was around the next corner. Sunday I was back on the same trail this time I met the devil. I stared Lucifer in the face. He was in the form of saturated mud and driving rain. and he was intent on ripping my soul out of my legs and leaving me to die trail side. Lucifer came close but he underestimated the power of Snickers and I managed to ride up stream, over slick wheel throwing boulders, and through the icy bullets of rain. I completed 2 laps in about 2:50 min and posted up till the 3 hour cut off for the marathon class expired. Why didn't i try for the third lap that might have bumped me up onto the podium? Because the fork that Sram Corp. rebuilt and sent back to had blow out again. Oh and my brakes sized up. Such is racing.

Highlights:
Wes kicked some serial ass on his SS taking second to a fast dude by the name of Breslin
Jumping my toasted bike and muddy self in to the frigid lake from the small boat dock.

Road Trip

2008-03-26T19:06:00.000-05:00

Flooding makes sense. I mean we have had a lot of precip this winter which has made riding extremely frustrating. So the fact that 141 sank beneath the murky watter of swollen rivers isn't out of place. What was out of place was the pure white snow that was falling in stark contrast to the grungy sewage water also known as the meramec. As sped my American made econo car across lake valley park by means of interstate 44 I swore I saw a horseman riding in from the north followed by a swarm of locusts. I pressed the accelerator harder for i was on a mission. I had a hockey ticket to a Blues Blackhawks game at the United Center. For those of you who are asking if the Scott Trade Center was renamed it was not. Easter morning for me headed to Chicago. The land of deep dish pizza, high winds, and horrible rude people who think they are New Yorkers. Well two stops for gas and 300 plus miles later I was parking my car wearing team colors. It is alwasy interesting watching a game as a visiting teams fan. I have found out that everyone thinks that they have the best venue for the sport. However, Chicago does have one of the best. It does have one major thing wrong with it. The Untied Center is in Chicago and the Hawks play there. Move it to the Lou have the blues call it home and it would undeniably be the best place to watch hockey. The game mirriored the saeson ; started out promising and ended as a let down (4-3 overtime loss). And so I made my way back home. I cut an hour off of my time and complete the up and back trip in 14 hours. Not a bad way to spend my day off. I just wish I had been able to ride.

Airin is back!

2008-03-22T20:27:00.000-05:00

I bled the brakes today at work and they worked beautifully! I was a little uncertain of how to actually bleed them because the manager at TC always did took car of those repairs. After lost valley I know I had to delve into the would of preasurized fluid. The first attempt didnt to jack so we (Casey Ryback of Team Seagal and myself) force bled it and it worked like a hooker on Burbon street. The new XT cranks look pretty fly as well and felt uber good at the last race. However, that could very well be because averything else felt like crap.

Rim Wrecker is next weekend and I managed to work it into my schedual. I will be "racing" endurance class in order to get a long Ride in before the Ouachita Challenge. I am stoker for this event. 60 miles on a mountain bike is my definition of an awesome ride.
I plan on commuting on my mountain bike just to get used to the feel of it. Anyway this is getting boring so PE@CE~

Spring is here

2008-03-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

I woke up late for work today. It was bound to happen and I kind of figured that i would over sleep last night when I went to bed. Oh well the bloodshot eyed, caffeine addicted zombies wielding their tumor inducing cellphones all received quality beverages with minimal wait times.

I haven't ridden a bike since Sunday. My eyes tickle like I am about to shed a tear as i pass the old school yellow squared commerce bank singe that saying the temp is 56 degrees and I am in a car. Yes producing smog, depleting oil reserves, not training, and munching on a Hersey's bar. What do I have to say for myself? nothing really I just shrug my shoulders. I'll be on the bike again soon most likely tomorrow.

Update: my fork is at Rockshox what they have accomplished I have no idea.

Ride Ride Race Wait

2008-03-17T16:40:00.000-05:00

So after St. Joes I had a pretty mild week (mild meaning I just work 70hrs and did not get to train). So I decided since I had Sunday off i should get a ride going. 62 mile covered bridge ride with a 17.2 mph average. It felt good! daylight saving gave me opportunities to ride after work so I snagged a quick 27 mile road ride. I demoed a Cannondale Caffeine 1 F29 Thanks to Sparky and the good folks at Ghisallo. It was a pretty sweet ride. The Lefty Carbon fork (is it really a fork if it only has one leg of should I call it a suspension rod?) was nice and stiff. The bike itself was very nimble and handled very well. I took it to lost valley for some pre-race night laps and almost made it through one but broke the chain. I was able to get a tri-fecta commute (38miles w/ a 17.6mph average) in before the race with a short trip to Cwood Saturday night to blow the legs out. 62+27+38+whatever, carry the one bring that down....a little over 130 miles in a week.

Sunday came and it found me at the mound prepping my bike for the second expert race of my career. The new XT cranks looked fast and I hoped they performed the same. However, it was at this time I began to notice that my fork didn't feel right. I checked the pressure and set off for a practice loop with the other DrJs. After about 2 miles the fork was toast I must have blown a seal and was leaking pressure causing it to bottom out from just my weight (no fat jokes please). I was pressed for time and just decided to race it and see how far I could get. The pace started out hot with the cyclocross bikes leading us down the hamberg trail at 20+mph. I bombed down the first downhill and could tell the lack of compressed air was going to be a huge factor. I felt good thought and ripped up the long grinding clime passing riders like I knew what I was doing. I knew Chris was wearing his helmet cam so I pushed hard to get around everyone and get some air time. The one problem was he was riding too fast for the camera to record anything. I did eventually get passed about 10 seconds later with Dave Breslin giving me some props. As we carver the corner and began descending my rear brake began to go soft. Hurling though the world without suspension and about 20% breaking power was not only wreaking havoc on my arms but also on my front wheel. I flatted. So within the first two miles I had three mechanicals (blown fork, no rear brakes, and a flat). I watched as the expert field passed me by then as the sport riders began to pass me with giant question marks on their faces.

Tube in, Chamois to saddle, throttle open and balls to the wall.

I began to work back through the giant sport class and back toward the experts. I managed to catch a few experts before my three laps ended. I had a good performance considering. Still disappointing. Now I wait for Rockshox to work their magic on my fork and for a bleed kit to come into the shop. The good news is that Chris took first again, BLM came out and raced endurance, Dwayne looks stronger, and we partied like rock stars at Brewskies afterward.

My name is MUD!

2008-03-08T15:21:00.000-06:00

6 am i shut the alarm off for the last time. I complain all week about having to be up so early and not being able to work out due to when i have to vacate my bed in the morning. Yet on a Sunday morning I am getting up at six to go ride bikes.
Today is not going to be a normal ride for today is race day. More importantly the first NORBA mountain bike race of the season. We have to meet at Bob's suburban castle at 6:45 so that we can make it to St.Joe's state park in the lovely Farmington Missouri. The best weather of the year was promised by the by the blonde trophy the news station pays to point a a green scree. Well she was right. However, the she had a sick sense of humor because she also use her million dollar smile to deliver horrible weather since November.
This day marked a milestone in my cycling Career (okay so I don't get paid but I pretend). I worked hard all of last season to make it on one team: DRJ Racing and this was my first Mountain bike race proudly displaying the blue, gold, and black. Since i had managed to finish in the top 5 four time last season I also moved from sport class to expert class so no i was racing against Icons such as Tim Kakouris, Dave Breslin, Anthony Thrower, and Eric Pirtle (a no show at St.Joes). The expert class is also stacked with the A-team from DRJ: Chris, Bob, and Wes. All of these ingredients resulted in cocktail of ravaged nerves and unrealistic hopes.
DRJ had a strong showing of six riders, One single speeder and five experts. We pre-road part of the coarse to judge the condition. The verdict: catastrophy. I took a place near the back at the starting line next to the only chick racing the open expert class (don't judge me you would have to). We started off every one trying to gain position before the casualties began to happen. I traded places with a few riders including before getting the nod to pass by my teammate Scott. I was chasing a young rider from Mesa Cycles who seemed to be laying it down. I was fighting off the soul sucking mud that was similar to the parasite from that turned spiderman into venom. I caught time before the end of the first lap and past him before the start of the second. I road pretty much alone passing a few riders from other classes in the process and catching glimpses of Paul Krewet. His ghost taunted me until he broke on the third lap and let me catch and pass him. I was severely starting to feel the pain then i felt something else. There was a wobble in the bike. I inspected my drive train the best I could at 10mph. the problem was not hard to spot. the non drive side crank was working its way off o the bottom bracket spindle (translation for those of you who just said "what??" in your heads: The sun was rising on doomsday). I stopped and realized i had sheared off the plastic tension bolt. I pulled the crank off, cleaned it as best I could, smashed it all back together in a controlled panic, tightened back down and set off again. While I feverishly worked i was passed by 5 other riders and began to cramp. I started out slamming the cranks hoping to catch the last rider who had passed me. I realized that it was hopeless and resorted to soft pedaling in order to save my components. As I neared the end of the coarse the crank fell off and I pedaled the paved path back to the start finish using only my right leg. I finished 11th out of the 12 that completed the 24 mile death march, of the 19 that started. Yes the Chick finished ahead of me she was 7th and was the first to pass me when I stopped.
I learned when i got back to the DRJ party bus A.K.A. Bob's Nissan Armada that Chris placed first followed by Bob and then Wes. Chris finished 38 minuets ahead of me. Can I complain about how I raced and the conditions? Yes I could, but I wont because that my friends is mother f*ckin' mountain bike racing.

What am I doing?!?!?!??1/

2008-03-07T14:19:00.000-06:00

the 24th seems like such a long time ago. A lot can happen in twelve days; upgrade components, ride everyday, learn to speak Spanish (for when I go pro), break a collar bone, meet the girl of my dreams. I managed not to do any of those things.
The 24th of February was, as most of you know, the first race of the season. The week prior delivered typical Missouri freeze thaw freeze thaw roller coaster winter. We were lucky enough to get 40 degree temperatures for our high noon start. For a road race in late winter sounds like a dream come true, and would have been if it were not for the half inch of snow that hit us with a sneak attack the night before.
So there I was bundled up and standing in pack of lycra clad warriors preparing to do battle on a 31 mile loop. Each with there own goals, strategies, skills, and support. I was calm. I was racing my first race as a member of DRJ Racing. I knew the three other riders that I was sharing colors with were strong and wouldn't let me down. Our plan was for Bob and Wes to do all the work while Scott and I sat in conserving our strength for the final sprint to glory. Since Scott and I are both Cat 4 riders we need points so that we could move up in categories and race Pro/1/2/3 races. Everything was going to plan (except for Scott's early misfortune of flatting). I was feeling good and Bob was setting a killer pace. As we neared the finish I threw a chain and nearly embedded my face in the asphalt. I managed to get the bike back together and with the help of a giant adrenaline spike, that can only come from narrowly missing the opportunity f leaving half of my skin/clothing along a 100 foot strip of road, i moved back to the front and got in position for the sprint. The pack was tense. One rider form Ghisallo had already gone and Wes did a nice job of bringing him back. Everyone was waiting for the second rider to go for that would be the start to the final sprint. shoulders were rubbing, chains chattering, and if you held your breath you could hear the blood of 40 riders pounding like a stampede of long horns across the wide open land. Then it happen to my right. Bright colors where flying past me. But the rider in front did not react. Twenty-five or so riders later I was able to get out and go. To late. I was now sprinting just to sprint and it felt good. Suddenly I was not sprinting after a uniform mass of cyclists but into a writhing knot of humans and metal. A knot that sounded like pain. I cut left and avoided the carnage to finish 11th.
Goal One: prove you can hang with the cat 3s in a race.
Goal two: Win
Goa Three: If goal two is not achieved be happy with what you did accomplish.
Two out of three is not bad and neither is 11th our of 75.

Amgen Tour of California

2008-02-23T11:21:00.000-06:00

I don't know how many people have been watching the race so far but I have found it to be uber addicting. BMC has had some very strong breaks thanks to this guy, Nydam. There has been a stomach virus that has forced many riders to drop including the Golden Jersey holder Tyler Farrer from Slipstream. Cipollini for rock racing has been quiet then again his team is only racing with 5 riders (6 is the min.). And let us not forget the man on top Levi Leipheimer. Who scorched the earth for Discovery East aka Astana in the 15mile time trial with a time of 30:46. Do the math thats a 30mph average. Freaking pimp! I can not wait to get on my bike tomorrow and try to become a god myself.

Froze Toes

2008-02-18T14:50:00.000-06:00

So i wake up with a sore throat on Saturday. Sinus pressure and a sore throat on Sunday. I down massive amounts of liquids containing Vitamin C with the hopes I can drop an atomic bomb on this sickness. It seems to have worked. the sore throat is mild and the pressure is gone. Now if I could just find time to work out this week before Froze Toes. Oh well not much you can do with what is scheduled I guess it is going to come down to if I have the mental toughness. Anyone want to try me?

the suck

2008-02-12T15:40:00.000-06:00

So since my last post what have I been up to? Besides not posting blogs I have been putting my body though a crash coarse in "get the Eff in shape". I have learned a valuable lesson: trainers suck! Thankfully I have a gym membership that I can use to supplement my training. Now I am feeling a bit better about myself and where I am at but I still have a long way to go.
This was made evident to me last Friday when I attempted to ride my commute trifecta (Home to Starbucks. Starbucks to TC (touring cyclist). TC to Home.) I left my house at 430am and got to work at 530am and ended up clocking in late due to having to change. I can normally do the first leg (14 +/- miles) in less than an hour. Oh well it was dark and cold so I'll just bust it to TC.
I made the decission to take a longer route to TC since I had two hours to get there (9+/- miles). The route takes me down 141 over the Meramec where I normally turn left onto Vance and take it to Hanna and from there to Manchester. Today I felt like adding some more pain so I turned right, cut though a subdivision up to old 141 and got dumped out onto Big Bend. I entered into another domestic orgy of prefab housing in order to reach Carmen RD. Carmen lead me to Des Peres and up to Clayton. I took the St.Louis cycling super highway down to Henry RD and turned into the TC parking lot. My legs were dead! I had no gas left and 14 miles home. Normally I would have tried the trip home considering the 6 hour rest as so known as my shift. But crossing the Meramec on 141 in the dark during rush hour on spent legs is not something I was about to attempt. I called the cavalry and got a ride home in a heated jeep. Oh well lesson learned. Trainers suck!

Feb 5th

2008-02-05T15:57:00.000-06:00

So since the weekend with all the nice weather I have been sitting on my ass. Bob, Wes, Chris, and myself went for a spirited hike on the Greenrock trail beggining in Rockwoods winding through Greensfelder and ending up off of Fox Creek RD. 11.11 miles in under 4 hrs. Despite that I weighted in the other day at the heaviest I have in almost a year. Last year I was stoked to be 183 now I am extremely dissapointed by it. With Froze Toes 19 days away I will have to be in the gym everyday and on the bike more then at the dinner table. Depressed yes not how I wanted to start my year off. Oh well hopefully i can get this run away train back on its track.

2 days 1 1/2 rides

2008-01-29T15:49:00.000-06:00

Due to the wonderful weather we have been experiencing here in a normally gelid January I have taken every opportunity to throw a leg over one of the girls and ride. Monday night myself and two of the Seagal boys (Greg Sandbox and Casey Ryback) harnessed the power of "THE ONE GEAR" and headed out to Lost Vally for a few nights laps. However, in my excitement I forgot to transfer my cycling shoes from my car to Casey's. I shrugged it off and headed out to see if Adidas climacool running shoes were as good as carbon fiber soled shimano mountain bike shoes. They are not. I did manage to make one full lap before I decided I wasn't in the best situation I headed back to the car with an extra backpack (Casey couldn't handle it for a second lap) and called it a night.

Tuesday morning came and I was up at 600 am so that i could ride Castlewood before work. I My timing was better then a Swiss made watch as I arrived at the park just as the ranger unlocked the front gate. The Phoenix (my single speed) was my steed of choice for the ride (mostly because the gears are hanging at the shop awaiting some crank bolts). I rode up Justin's to Love. Climbed up ranger so that i could dispose of Roller Coaster. Headed to the back of the park outlaw style down Stinging Nettle and up Blue Ribbon. back to the front for the final climb up the switch back side of Lone Wolf. A little over two hours of ride time pretty good way to start any day. Now I'm sitting at Starbucks watching it snow. Looks like Golds is going to be seeing more of me for the next week.

South Trace

2008-01-28T13:22:00.000-06:00

Saturday I was scheduled to work 9-5. However, I had a slightly different idea of how Saturday the 26th of January was going to be recorded in the history of the world. Bob, Chris, Wes, and Little Buddy were heading south to ride South Trace and connect it with Council Bluff for an all day epic ride. Through the graces of a chill boss I was able to move my hours around and secure an entire day of freedom. The ride would have been worth picking up an extra 8 hour shift. The single track is unbelievable despite having numerous trees down. An nuisance that was easy to over look considering some of the down hill had me forgetting all about Colorado. The trail at Council Bluff was much more groomed and we made short work of it. We ended back at the car 32 miles, four and a half hours, 80oz of fluid, and 3 gu's later. The trail: perfect. The weather: perfect. The ride: Best of the year.

Rollin'

2008-01-24T12:53:00.000-06:00

I have been doing my best to log some base hours in this still young 2008. I however am facing to main problems: Daylight/time and temperature. I cant make the days longer and know that if i drop the money on some winter shoes it will warm up for good about the time they arrive. So I clipped the chin strap on my thinking cap and went to lows for supplies to make my own.
-one roll pipe insulation
-one roll foil duct tape
-one roll heavy duty duct tape (black)
I spent two hours wrapping cutting and taping to arrive at what I believe to be the pinnacle of home made shoe covers.

Laugh at them if you like all I have to say on the matter is; foot sweat in 20 degree riding weather. That is an occurrence rarer then a virgin cheerleader.

snooze

2008-01-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

So I'm sitting here eating a bag of peanut m&m's cursing myself with every crunchy chocolaty bite. I just don't have the motivation that i had this time last year. I can figure it out. I rode all of castlewood on Sunday with Casey Ryback of Team Seagal. I ate it at the bottom of blue ribbon and have done nothing with the bike since. God help me I need to get in shape and quick!!!

Whats in the TC fridge????//

2008-01-10T10:10:00.001-06:00

Well now that January has is hold on us like that molesting uncle on you mothers side of the family, and the Christmas rush followed by the return rush have both come to a tragic end things here at good old TC Manchester are just a little slow. So we start doing project IE: cleaning the repair bay, vacuuming the entire store, sorting though piles of old bike components, and of course cleaning out the refrigerator. Here are some pictures of the horrors that I found:

I started drink soy milk for the protein then was told i might damage the swim team so it sat and then expired in November.
Rudy was gnawing on this huge hunk of meat the day after Christmas. I think its still raw.
This cheese can totally stand alone
This pool of something (we believe it to be AIDS) sits, as you can see, just inches from our food.
So here is the morel if we offer you something think twice.

Middle Fork loop

2008-01-06T11:14:00.000-06:00

I found out (by found out I mean that I actually looked at my schedule a few days in advance) on Thursday that Saturday was completely open. This meant one thing God might still like me and an epic ride was in order. I was setting my sights on the first century of the year until Chris Ploch suggested we do the newly founded Middle Fork loop. I agreed seeing it as a good opportunity to start training for the Ouachita challenge. The warm weather that we figured we would enjoy didn't seem to follow us south. However, the temperature was higher then it had been and we were both a little over dressed when we started out. We road the entire Middle Fork trail which is about 24 miles of some sweet single track and even sweeter downhills. The trail was pretty soft but mostly rideable with the exception of one cyclocross type mud pit. At the lovely little town of Oacts (sp) we hopped on the gravel roads for 10 miles back to 2 more miles of single track. The distance we had covered was already weighing down my legs when we started ascending a slight incline. Chris looked over his should and said "Did I tell you that the hardest hill we go up in on the gravel road?" a simple no was all I could replay while thinking we must be on it but i should have known by his shit eating grin what he was about to say "And this isn't it." We did conquer the massive climb on the gravel road and got back onto the single track, which we had already ridden the other direction. I was toasted and at one point Chris lovingly pointed out I was standing up in my granny gear. But I made it back to the car my bike trashed my legs rubberized but knowing i had just laid the first brick in the foundation that I will build a mansion of racing upon.

New Years Day Ride 2008

2008-01-02T15:19:00.000-06:00

Well a very happy new year to everyone out there surfing the interwebs!!1 The start to my 2008 year took place at the lovely abode of Wes and Janelle surrounded most of the other DrJ's. We not only had one ball drop at midnight but two as Little Buddy streaked though the subdivision to Big Bend and back.
Only one thing better than a ridiculous party is a huge group ride on some of the best single track in Missouri. 25 degrees and heavy winds couldn't detour the 25+ riders that showed up. As we headed onto the trail after our warm up and the pack thinned out I started to feel really well about my riding. I was at this point that I realized I wasn't hung over and everyone else was. I did however finish that lap and had managed to sweat though my head band and base layer. 15+ miles in about 1 hour 45 min followed up by a giant feast equals a good time in my book. Here's to a Rocking Awesome year!!!

2007-12-30T13:42:00.000-06:00

Can I just say that I am Stoked? I have just been watching video clips from Cyclocross races and the '07 tour and I am more ready to ride then a drunk 18 y/o slut on spring brake. Out of shape? Yes. stuck at work? Yes. Itching to leave a rubber foot print on something? Oh Hellz yes! So don't let the boss know I rode my bike around the shop a few times (the carpet is in bad shape anyway). Just one month and racing begins. Oh the pain of pushing past the physical limits of this carbon based goo bag. its like a splinter in my brain its such a necessary evil and I love every masochistic second.

Pe@ce~

good times again

2007-12-29T11:51:00.000-06:00

So i got out on the road bike on the 27th. I was cold a little wet but mostly frustrating. I is hard to believe that in just 2 months i have lost so much fitness. Then again it is winter and i do have a few weeks to work at getting as much back as possible. So i spent 2 hours on the trainer the other night and thought back about the past season. so here are some pictures and just a reminder that I WON WINGHEVEN!!

Casey Ryback snapping my wrist as we race through rockwoods

Berryman

2007-11-20T14:50:00.001-06:00

About a week ago Chris and I headed out to Mark Twain National Forest to ride Berryman. Seeing as this would be the first time I ever threw myself and my bike down this trail I was pretty stoked. However despite the sunny morning we were greeted with our ride became rather overcast. The clouds lead to rain but no worries a little water never hurt anyone. Then I sliced a side wall. Oh well a new tube and we'll be rolling again. That morning while grabbing gear i mistook a 26inch tube for a 29inch. Good thing rubber stretches (Insert birth control/condom joke here). So now I am back to the came of "Was that Chris's jersey?" as the rain begins to come down a little harder. As the trail does it best impression of Hollyfield vs. Tyson fight on my bike I realize exactly how much fitness that I have lost with my new diet of whatever i want washed down with Monster. It was about this time that I noticed a wobble on my non drive side crank arm. I thought it was the pedal stripping its self of the constrains but then the entire crank arm came of with one massive push from my Kankle of death. Talk about bad luck I had lost the tension bolt somewhere behind me and and had to "tighten the hell out of it" as Chris gently put it. Back to riding and I got the run down of what was left in our ride "Then one more bad ass hill...its all down hill from there except where is goes up hill." Some how i did find comfort in those words and before I knew it we were back at the car.

Back at the shop I stripped the Pheonix down and took inventory of what was needed: 20tooth freewheel and a new FSA tension bolt. Not bad lets just hope my luck gets a little better I'm getting tired of mechanicals!

PS- Rumor has it that I am buying a cyclocross bike something like this

2007-11-10T19:12:00.000-06:00

"I can't believe the news today. Just close my eyes and make it go away." What is wrong with a sport that causes its governing leaders to attack the athletes rather then help them. I understand that doping is unfair and isn't allowed but at the same time it seems like these guys sneeze wrong during the off season and the next thing you know they are being banned or smeared. For Christmas all I want is a 2008 tour that doesn't have a criminal it just has some hard nosed heros who ride really fast in tight pants. Check the link!!

2007-11-07T10:23:00.001-06:00

So last nigh I was riding out at the ranch and took my routine place of trying to catch back up to the pack. This is harder to do when you take a wrong turn and wander around on fire roads for bit. At one point I stopped to figure out if I should turn around or keep moving forward when I noticed a small armored nocturnal animal on the side of the trail. This was the first time I have ever seen and armadillo up close. The little guy seemed to be pretty tame and walked right up to me. However, he didn't help me out much with the problem at hand and just wasted more time so I took off again. I ended up finding LB's park and from there my way back to the house. Happy ending.
To change topics slightly I am sure we have all noticed the changing colors in nature and now the changing colors of my blogs layout. There is also one other thing that has changed color and that is my jersey. I was finally picked up by a race team. Not just any team though, it is the team that holds mountain biking in Missouri in a sleeper hold. A little team known simply as DRJ. So now its just a matter of me getting better and deserving of these colors.
So I started out talking about an insignificant animal and ended with a tear jerking (at least for me) story of fall and me receiving some of the biggest news I've gotten all season. I think it is only fitting that I end this post with this.... I WON WINGHAEVON!!!

pix

2007-10-30T15:06:00.000-05:00

Levi at the Branson TT

C. Ploch @ Cape
Matt G. of team Seagal snapping wrists at chubb
Dan Schmatz at the Chubb TTHalf of my ugly mugTank and Scott at Cape

Dan Schmatz technical skill @chubb and yes I know its sideways deal with it (tilt you head)

Chubb TT

2007-10-28T21:48:00.000-05:00

What a mind blowing face melting experience. After rolling out of bed at the time I was supposed to be there I grabbed my wet cycling clothes out of the washer and headed out. I got the the hi-tech registration 20 late (similar to Floyd Landis at the 2006 TDF prolog) and was given my number (6). after scouting out competitors one through 5 I realized I has out of my league. This dude from Mesa Cycles and his girlfriend (both looked menacing), Eddie Kline (uber fast single speed icon), Chris Ploch (If you don't know who he is flip your dictionary to fast), and lastly some roadie from ballwin name Dan Schmatz. I ended up going fifth after the roadie threw a fit (something about the favorite goes last). So Eddie started, then Mesa dude fallowed by his girlfriend, Chris, myself, and lastly Mr.Schmatz. As I bombed down he first hill I ran up on some 2 ton trail destroying shit machines and their dark hearted masters and proceeded to piss them off for Dan to enjoy. I caught and passes Chris who had kindly stopped to the pre-production glue. However, he kept me in sight and we crossed the second set of track together just as a train (which had stopped everyone except Eddie) finished passing. I was then passes up the hill to the staircase by Chris then Mesa Dude. Schmatz flew passes me, in a whirlwind of spinning legs, before we reached the gravel pit s-turn climb. I was still fifth since i had passed Mesa Dude's GF at the tracks so I settled in and kept riding hoping i was going faster then everyone but knowing I wasn't. right before getting to the picnic table on the return trip I came upon Eddie who had run across the only thing that could stop him, the flat tire of death. Since he is an Icon he needed no help so I passed him to move into forth. I blasted back down the downhill, over the staircase, two sets of tracks with a rock garden in between down the never ending fire road and up the last climb of the day to lay down a at skid and finish with an unofficial time of about 1hr 15min.
Chris ended up with the win which is sweet for him and Eddie still had a pretty fast time with the flat. All in all it was an extremely baller event that more people should have attended. Major Thanks to Team Seagal!!!!!1111

After the event we had a pretty sweet group ride with the entire Seagal Team and Dan Schmatz. This ended up being the longest group ride ever due in large part to 2 flats and a couple mechanicals. All in all a good Sunday.

2007-10-21T20:25:00.001-05:00

I really do not care what the final outcome of the 2006 tour is this picture gives me chills every time I see it. Not only does it it symbolize the story of Floyd snapping the wrists of the best cyclists in the world but, also the struggle that is still going on. Floyd's last chance at apple is underway I hope he is finally recognized for his achievements. This picture is going to be taped up everywhere for me this winter. I need to focus like Floyd excuse me while I practice wheelies on my road bike.

seasons end

2007-10-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

With the last cross country race completed I look back at how I did over the season and how I feel about my proformance and I am disapointed. Sure I had some highlights such as moving up to a cat4 and the 5th place team finish at Burnin'. I just feel as if I slowly deteriorated over the season. I gained weight back and just didnt feel like putting in the hours of training needed to stay compedetive. Next season I will be moving up to expert class on the NORBA circut. I some how have to find my focus through the winter in order to stay light and get stronger for next season. Either way I just am not feeling the cycling love right now.

pe@ce~

New again

2007-09-04T13:43:00.000-05:00

So i just dropped a G on to my bikes and as the burning sensation i have in my right ass cheek fades i must say the girls are looking pretty fly. I completely overhalled the SS. Geting ready for 24 hours of Landahl. and i put some XTR shifters on Airin just because i figured out how to get them for free. Now if i could just solve this problem of feeling tired all of the time and get my ass out and ride i might be worthy of the bikes i owen. Pictures to come.

Home Again

2007-08-19T02:55:00.000-05:00

With the risk of sounding like a broken record COLORADO WAS AWESOME!!!!11 I could not have picked a better group of guys to ride with the. The mountains, the single track, catching Downhillers, it was amazing. THANX to Brennen for letting me crash with them.

My 2 weeks of 2 wheels in over. But the riding/racing/training is just about to heat up again. Despite missing the Gateway Cup I should be pretty busy between Norba races and crits. I am even getting some invites to be on teams for 24hr of Landal and Burnin' at the Bluffs. This is still up in the air. First and formost is the Cape Race. I have never been on this course so it should be interesting. I really hope that I can break my 4th place finish streak I have going on.

Lastly I hope all went well for Team Seagal and DRJ at Rapture in Misery.

fairwell

2007-08-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my last day of riding here in Moab. I got up early and rode from my camp to the Porcupine Rim trail. I was a 30 mile loop with a couple thousand feet of climbing then an AMAZEING decent into some unmatched single track. Later I went to the Monitor and Meramec trail but didnt have it in me to do the entire figure eight and copped out finishing with only 10 miles.

I has once again Been a blast riding here In moab. I have 98miles on the mountain bike and 129mile on the road bike. I climbed a mountain, ran out of water, broke a chain, bent derailure hangers, and didnt get once flat tire.

From here it is on into Colorado where I will meet up with Chris and some of the guys from DRJ. I am not quite sure where but I'm thinking that I would hold u in Crested Butte then head to leadville and watch Landis, Armstrong, and ross so who can ride 100 miles faster My money is on Landis.

Smart....not really

2007-08-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

So Here is how my day off went

Got bored

went for a easy road ride

Decided to drop the easy and do a 62 mile loop into the La Sal mountains

Ate all my food on the climb and drank most of my water

Started the 20 mile decent back to Moab

bridge was out had to turn around and climb 3 miles back to the summit

8oz of watter left and 39miles

Descending at 30mph

hairpin+brakes+grave=bent derailleur hanger, out of true wheels, and blood

finish the 20+ mile decent with about 4oz of water left

1/2 oz drinks as I limp the rolling road back at 16-17mph

GET BACK TO CAMP 79MILES 5.15HOURS WITH A 15MPH AVERAGE AND 4500 FEET OF CLIMBING.

Hind sight: Maybe I should have gotten a cassette with a bigger ring then 23

Rest Day

2007-08-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

After logging 100mi in the last 3 days i decided to leg the legs get so recovery time. Although i really want to be out on the bike. I will probably take Jess (Fuji Team Pro) out for and easy going road ride later. Nothing too major though. Tomorrow I am planning to hit Porkupine Rim early then maybe Moniter & Meramec. So until then.....

MOAB ....NEW HOME?

2007-08-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

The first day I got to ride here in gorgeous Moab Utah was on the 4th. I decided to start out slow and ease into the MTB scene here. YEAH RIGHT SLICKROCK HERE I COME!!!!!11 It kicked my ass. I crashed twice bending my Derailure hanger both times and skinning up my arm a bit. Then i broke a chain near the end but im a mechanic so i was able to trail fix it all (I love using an d XTR derailure as a leverage tool). I decided the 13+ miles there wasnt enough so I headed out to the Bar M trail which was rated as an easy trail. Well i got a little off track and ended up on the Soverign trail which had some whicked single track but took me way out of my way. All said and doen day one about 25 miles. that night I met up with thei guy Andy who was originally from STL and we planned a road ride for the next morning. We met up about 830amand road to Arches National Park. Gorgeouse Scenary and gigantic climbs totaling 50 miles. Today i decided to try to do the Behind the rocks 16mile loop that is used for the 24hrs of Moab enduance race. I got out there early and it was over cast so the cool temps really helped me out concidering i got lost again and added 2 extra miles onto the course. Still not satisfied I headed out to Klondike tail (picture). This trail is an out and back which is 7 miles of climbing to and over look then 7 miles of down hill. total milage 33 miles. I AM HAVING A FREAKING BLAST!!!!! Check out some of my trap vids on mysapce