CIRREM!

This weekend i ventured down to Cumming Iowa with wilson, brunning, and the mcnasty. after a late start leaving fairbault. the crack'n'fail got overhauled with new kore gradient wheels and an xtr rapid rise rear derailleur along with some good ole elbow engineering, courtesy of ben witt. drew and i ventured down to des moines were we would later meet up with dave and don. we got the bikes ready, had some pizza and settled in for the night.

Wake up Saturday am early for breakfast and were late to the start due to dave getting a little embrocation on his nads. if you don't know what embrocation is, you need to know. it is a leg saver in cold weather. shortly there after we had the mass roll out, things were dicey as people were figuring out their legs and getting spaced out. it was a neutral roll out to the first bridge as it was a dangerous crossing. then the race was on. the first 15 miles was incredibly icy and after being taken out by another rider i found my self in dead last place 2 miles into the race. i lost a solid 15 minutes getting my gear back in order, but i finally was on my way. caught up to don, whom i told to leave me be when he stopped to help. caught up to dave, caught up to and passed 93 of the 112 starters. i rode from dead fucking last to 19th place. i couldn't be happier. the conditions were awfully awesome, the temperature was perfect, and the time spent with my cohorts couldn't be better. i will be back next year. things i learned. i need to get up front right away. had i not gotten taken out in the general mass confusion that is the start of these races. i would have stuck with the lead group for the majority of the race. would i have won it? probably not, would i have finished top 10 and less then 30miniutes behind. you bet. ill leave you here with some fun peektures and linkys to results and other recaps.

Dons rite up: the sarcastic clydesdale
Drews which i assume will be up soon: ride on purpose
Results: cirrem 2012

and finally peektures:

all nice and clean

drew getting prepped

post race

mhh yea

Rachel and I

ps. oh yea i spent saturday night visiting a long lost friend in ames, if yer ever passing through check out the old main brew pub, the scotch ale was really good, the food was ok, but the visit was great!

Flat

The joys of commuting started for me about 4 years ago, besides the random crash or ten on ice, ive had a very mechanical free experience. yesterday i blew the sidewall out of my tire. first flat in 4 years of commuting. i really wasn't too concerned. called work, told them i would be late, and got around to fixing my shit. booted the sidewall with a dollar bill, put a tube in and went on my way.

what really bothered me however, was the lack of general concern by the community. i was pulled up on the side of a busy road with very minimal shoulder, and not a single individual slowed up, pulled over, or asked if i was ok. maybe it had to do with the clothing i was wearing or the manner i was carrying my self, or maybe its just that people don't give a fuck and don't want to step out side of their daily routine. 

either way if you always ever see some one on the side of the road, please stop and see if their ok.

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!