untitled with the almanzo boys

rolled out of bed at 5:30 this morning with a mission. gravel. drove down to rochester minus mr. bruning due to some sickness. met up with a crew of 14 incuding one gal, and set out to pound some gravel. the ride wound through town and set out to the east on the old almanzo course pre move to spring valley. we stopped about 22 miles in dover for a quick warm up. then continued on down to chatfield. for some lunch at chubway. i ate too much and the brake was too short, when we set out again (minus 6 riders who caught rides back due to the cold) we encountered a set of very steep climbs. they where long and grueling at the top we had 8 miles of head wind. i had stomach pains and my body more or less decided to quit working for me. i quickly dropped off the back, i never got cold, i just couldnt seem to function. but i stuck it out. at the end of the day we logged 70 miles. not too bad for a blustry day in january. i have some serious training to due for the up coming royal. but i know i can go the distance. i just need to put in the miles so i stay comfortable.

PS. found this photo over on drews page, nicely taken from some go pro footage of the ride. i think it nicely sums up the atmosphere of the ride. look at that big ole smile!

from left to right. Mitch ? on the bianchi, Marc the spec rep, Chris Almanzo Skogen, Drew Wilson, Me!

Buy my stuff!

i have some ski equipment for sale. but it. ya wuss!


http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/spo/2815700506.html

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/spo/2815688765.html

the mad capper

david and i rode out to stillwater for lunch yesterday. rode the cross bikes on the willard munger state trail. just enough boot traffic to make the going treacherous, but exciting. 27miles one way with a killer descent/ climb into and out of stillwater on county road 12. the food was hot. the beer was cold. and the weather cooperated very nicely. hard to complain about logging 55miles in the dead of January.

Oh sweet child of vine...

Willard Munger State Trail

Myspace emoshoot worthy????

Maredsous 8!

Its always 50 and sunny in January

well bought a power cord. charged up the camera. shredded the river bottoms for an hour, then met up with dave and danica for another 2 hours of shenanigans. made for a nice 3hr session of peddling followed by 2hrs at the ski hill. most odd january ever. but enough of that on to the good stuff.

50 and sunny in Jan

AHhhhhhhhhhhh!

Woah!

Weeeeee!

 

vegan dave!

danica!

 

civilized bikes

CRASH!

the front tire went to the left. then to the right. then to the left. i tried to pedal through and correct. instead found my self sliding 40ft across the pavement. RIP my trusty arm warmers. we've been through a lot together. i've never had a skin saver as good as you....on the other note i got out for a nice 20miler. been feeling really physically exhausted the last two weeks so i took the crack'n'fail out for a nice little cruise just to get the lungs breathing a bit. beautiful day, with beautiful weather and all around awesome conditions, except for that darn patch of black ice i had a great ride. would have loved to have snapped some photos but the battery in my camera is dead and i cant find that darn power cord any where.