Week 13 over the past 5 years

To calm Donimator's concern about my pussification:
2005 - 2139 miles
2006 - 1992 miles
2007 - 2457 miles
2008 - 1818 miles
2009 - 1853 miles
Yes, they include trainer miles, but around 80% are logged outdoors.

At least it was dry this weekend

I'm looking for that silver lining again. 2 more great 5 hour rides logged this weekend. Saturday with Painman, Donimator, and the LSC crew on the North Side. Sunday was another Flanders ride to Blakely and back. Both days required the winter clothing, but I'll take this time of year.

300+ Mile Week

The spring weather is finally here, and Jordan and I made the most of it this week.

Joined the LSC crew Saturday morning for a west side ride. Nearly 20 guys at the start. Only 7 of us did the 4.5hr full monty. Thanks to Red Lantern and Painman for inviting us along.

We did our first traditional Sunday morning Flanders ride out to Belle Plaine. 15 or so guys on that ride too. Did some pacelining, which Jordan loved. About 70 miles into the ride, 8 of us were pacelining including Zim, Doig, Woell, Gorski, Pletcher, MacGibbon, Jordan, and me. Eventually, the pace hotted up enough where guys stopped pulling through. First MacGibbon, then Pletcher, then Gorski, then me. Jordan kept the hammer down with the 3 Cat 1 horses. He learned the hard way that fewer people in the rotation means less rest, and eventually dropped back, but not before impressing the crap out of me. We got back to our car with 92 miles, and decided it was too nice to stop, so we kept going till we got 107. With all the pacelining, we ticked off 100miles in under 5 hours.

Saturday Route: 87 Miles, 4.5 hours

Final Stop Saturday in Watertown, MN

Sunday Route: 107 miles, 5.25hours

Refuelling Sunday in Belle Plaine, MN

Riding Skinny Tires

The roads of Western WI were dry enough this week to bring out Jordan's A bikes.

Jordan's new Time Edge Pulse w/DA 7900

Jordan's TT equiped Giant TCR C3

A glimmer of warmth, finally...

Got out for 2 great rides this weekend, with temps in the 50's. Saturday with the LSC crew, Sunday with the Flanders crew. It was Jordan's first time back on the bike in 2 weeks, since he managed a double ear infection following our Big Sky Vacation.

Saturday's LSC East Side Ride sponsored by Shane Kullman. Thanks Man.

Sunday's Flanders West Side Ride sponsored by Jack Stack. Thanks Man.

Powder Day

We awoke to over a foot of fresh powder. We spent the day in the steep and deep of Elk Park on runs with names like "Crazy Raven", "Snake Bite", and "Mad Wolf".

The amazing view from our Big Sky Condo.

Jordan skiing Mad Wolf in over a foot of fresh powder.

Conquering Marx

A goal of this year's Big Sky trip was to ski the runs Marx or Lenin. They are only accessible from the 11,166ft peak, which requires a Tram ride up the opposite face of the mountain.

Jordan and I have both skied the more easily accessible Liberty Bowl several times, and even that has a fall line that intimidates the crap out of me. To top it off, conditions at the peak today were near white out.

In the blinding conditions, Treb convinced me and Jordan to take the Yeti traverse above the rock field to access Marx. I froze up a bit at the top, but once I dropped in, and took a couple jump turns, I was fine. Good snow too.

After that, I felt much more confident, and even followed Treb into my first double black diamond Big Rock Tongue.

Later in the day, Waataja and Jordan had split from Treb and I to go back to the chalet. The route was via a very steep run from the top of the Challenger lift. Half way down, Mike saw a guy above them fall and lose his ski. The run was too steep for the ski to self-arrest, and it came flying down, within a few feet of them. Too close for comfort.

Waataja storming the magic carpet

Tacos and Balls

The 3 of us ate at a local bar and grill. Adventuresome Jordan, ordered Rocky Mountain Oysters, aka bull balls. Mike and I had tacos.

Yes. He ordered balls.

Trying a ball.

Oh my god these are good!

I think they included the sack with the balls. Waataja tried one. He said it tasted like foreskin. Jordan's new nickname is Rocky.

Tree Skiing at Big Sky

A little James Bond action through the trees. Listen at the end when I get nailed in the gut by a branch.

Life is Good

Who goes somewhere cold during spring break? We do. Big Sky, Montana.

Waataja, Jordan, and me first time up the lift.

Paul Rennert - A Tragic Loss

Paul Rennert, my friend and teammate, passed away recently due to complications of MS. Very sad news. Our hearts reach out to his wife Tevi and Paul's family.

Happier Times: Paul and Tevi at the 2007 MCF Awards Party

Paul Leading the Masters 35+ field at St. Cloud, July 2007

Considering Racing in the 2009 NVGP Stage Race?

Click here

Spread the word.

Coldsprints - Season 2 Opener

Had a good time at Coldsprints at the new location, te Nomad World Pub. I opted out, but Jordan was up for it. There were some technical issues, which messed up Jordan's first ride. His re-ride qualified him 3rd behind a couple of familiar faces from the Cross Season, Randall Dietel and Noah Jenson.

The head 2 head matches were hit an miss, with technical issues. Jordan won his first couple heats, but the issues kept causing delays, and re-matches. We were ready to leave, when they called Jordan up to race 2nd seed Noah Jenson. Noah edged Jordan out. We watched a couple more matches and then headed home.

The video below is of Jordan's match against a guy wearing a GP skinsuit.

Chilly in San Fran

Rented a GoCar to tour the city. Way fun, even if we looked like idiots.

Several Cable Car Rides. Always a San Francisco Treat.

The Amazing Golden Gate Bridge

The Famous Painted Ladies

Donimator's Next Car? Lamborghini Diablo

Whole Dungeness Crab Dinner. A first for me. It was great.

Carla is to public transportation as oil is to water

Tour of San Francisco

Dinner in Chinatown

Coit Tower

Ghirardelli Square. Scored some serious Chocolate!

Evening Cable Car Ride

Warmer days are here

Jordan and I took advantage of the warmer weather Thursday evening, and did the Prescott Loop for the second time in a week. About 20 degrees warmer than last Friday with Zim. The roads were surprisingly dry, and the bikes stayed pretty clean.


Its a good loop with some leg stretchers. 2600ft total climbing. Our usual route is to head south through WI, and come back up the MN side. The MN roads are more busy, and that puts us on them after rush hour traffic has died down.

Looks like we're going to Oregon twice in 2009

Junior Road Nationals won't be in Orange County, CA in 2009. Looks like they'll be in Bend, OR. Cross Natz are there too.

July 28-Aug 2: Junior Road Natz, Bend, OR
Dec 10-13: Cross Natz, Bend, OR

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090203/NEWS0107/902030409/1041&nav_category=

Weekend lived up to it's billing, and then some

Bonus Friday Ride: Zim came to Hudson for the Prescott Loop with me and Jordan.

318 Ride on Saturday: Near 50 degrees by the end of the ride. Caught the Loppet Ice Races afterwards.

Sunday Flanders Ride: Managed to lose track of the others, and rode most of it solo.

My good friend, Chris Doig

This is a shot of my friend, and now teammate, Chris Doig. I've known Doig since he started out back in the mid 90's. Now he's married, with a baby girl, and still loving the bike.

Up until today, I had only raced with Chris. Today was my first training ride of many with Chris. Unfortunately, our ride got split up, I missed a turn, and ended up riding solo. It's all good though. Doig rode hard tempo, challenging Jordan in my absence.

Eventually, Jordan went down on the icy trail. Now he'll have another scar on his knee to remind of the day he first rode with Doig, and ditched his dad in the process.

As usual, my favorite part of these Sunday rides in hitting Sebastian Joe's post ride. However, when I got there, no Doig. He had more important things to do like be a good husband and father. Maybe next time.

FYI: This is a sarcastic post to appease Doig's desire to make mention in one of my blog posts. You're welcome Chris.