Welcome to the Dungeon Baby, its time for you to die.

Well it’s almost time to start the training and this year I going into it with guns a blazing.

The diet is all worked out and tonight is the time to get the basement in order for the training dungeon,

I even gone as far as getting myself a super secret coach, yes that’s right, a super secret coach that will layout my training program and help me with the issues I have had in the past. The goal is easy, sport. Yes just sport and “NO” Clyde this year just plain old age group.

The plan will be much different than in the past, as the goals have been set for almost 8 weeks and I need to stick to them, no matter what.

The bike plan is all set, a new 09’ Rig and new 09’ HiFi. One for the flat and fast, and one for the bumps and lumps. The Rig is set to go, maybe a new bar but that should be about it. The HiFi is another story, as this will be my main ride I’m taking a little more time with this one.

It lies out like this……

Frame 09’ HiFi

Fork Fox (taken from the Rig)

Wheels Sun (thanks Russ)

Stopies Hayes(thanks again)

Gears X9 all around

Cranks Bonty Xlite carbon ,running it 2x9

Stem and bars XXX stem and Xlite big sweep bars

Seat and post RXL seat on a Xlite ACC carbon post.

Grips None(I run bar tape)

So that’s the plan, well as much as I can tell you anyway. We will see, but my goals are simple and I don’t thing to far out of my reach. Now I just have to stick to it and the rest should fall into line.

See Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

MARRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

gotta do this to get rid of that

Broken things cost money

Yes they do. So at Shawno I figured out I broke my Ferrous frame, Great I really liked that frame and the color, but I figured since I already ordered a new RIG I really have no need for another hard tail so I am getting a HIFI as a replacement. But there was not a chance I was giving it up till after Shervegas and......... well here it goes.
The race it self was OK for me this year, I really wanted to make a good showing and work for a top three, Don calls go and were off, I'm sitting good and watching the leaders right in front about five bikes up. I'll sit here I figure and just watch for awhile, then some guy eats it in the first single track and there is no way to get around, SHIT..................... I'm f'd as the lead group is gone. I get back on and I have two guys to work with and we do well all the way into the tall pines when I see the group ahead and push to catch them(BIG MISTAKE). I was getting tired from playing catch up but figured as soon as I caught them I could sit in and take a breather.
I stand to catch up and hit the ground like sack of shit, I hit the ground HARD BOOM!!!!!!!!!! A sharp pain in the hand as I look down to see the last three fingers on my left hand bent backwards touching my wrist, Shit I figure I broke them, I roll around on the ground in pain for awhile, the two guys behind me stop(Thanks) long enough to get me and the bike off the trail.
I think to myself I'm done..........Fuck that I'm finishing, rip off the glove, pull off the wedding ring(good move as you'll see later) and pull my fingers back into joint, and ya know it didn't hurt that much. Put the glove back on and off I go.
The hand hurts but I figure I'll just put it out of my head and it worked. Road the rest of the single track and across the road trying to make up some time, got to the hill and figured giver and I did. The first time in five years I mad it up the EQ. and i even got payed.
Made the rest of the lap and stopped by Erica to off load the ring and the five dollars and off I went to finish the last lap. It was a good race and I even ended seventh in my field(I figured for sure I was last).
The hand was a hole bigger problem, by the time I finished I could hardly move my fingers and the swelling was getting bad but there was no way I was leaving. The rest of the night was spent in pain but not enough that a few beers couldn't help.
The next day I get up and my hand looks like a rainbow, Blue,Yellow,Purple and Green and the swelling is so bad I can't move the fingers at all(thank God I took off my ring), so i figure I should go to the doctor but I have to go into work first to get my guys to their jobs and take care of some stuff, yes I am bull headed.
Well by the time I got to the doctor it was like almost seven pm and I still need to get X-rayed.
At first look they see no breaks, WOW no breaks so back home to ice I go and by Tuesday the swelling is down and the colors Oh the colors are much worse.
At 3:00pm my phone rings, its the doctor from yesterday" Randy is your pinkie hurting or giving you any problems" "well yes it hurts more then the others" "well that's because you broke it at the second joint and it giong to hurt for awhile" "Thanks for the info".
Not much they can do for it but he was right it hurts.
Other then that not much has been going on, went to the WORS banquet, it had a low turn out from years past and I still didn't win anything. Then the sickness came to the family and for almost two weeks we've passed it back and forth till the last two day we seen to be coming out from under it.
Tonight were heading to the SUG's for "Trick or Treat" for Tess and then it's up to Green Bay for me to do a Ski swap for the bike shop. So its another full weekend.

See ya...........................................

On the note of my blog has been taken over buy a cut and past hacker I will add this.

Who are you voting for?

Lets hope he has a good firewall and virus scanner.
I love computers and what they can do for you and to others.

"I AM ALIVE"

Yes I am. I know its been awhile and I've been taking some shit because I haven't updated but I've had a lot to do and to blog you have to have time, unlike ASHOLE who just posts pictures of his man crush.
So where do I start.... the 40 will do.
This year was not the best, had a great ride up with John S. and Dave D. but the race was totally different. Git up at the crack of dawn to get some bikes out, then it was back to the house for some breakfast and a last check of thing to make sure I had everything and before I knew it we had to go. Got to the start line to stand around and wait( same old same old) then we were off. The road was OK but I went a little to had pulling Sug and got slammed in the field, tried to grab a wheel but the legs felt like concrete so I just sat. Felt good in the beginning, saw Regina get a flat and asked if she was OK, she was and passed me later. Saw most of my team pass me also but I figured that was going to happen, I looked at it like this, my plan was to have fun no matter the time.
At around eight to go the back started to really act up and I was all over the bike, I couldn't a place that was comfortable to sit then the rain, the rain o shit the rain. It was OK at first but around 2 to go it came down with some force and the bike suffered for it. The last hill before the finish I chain sucked and bad, it took about 5 min to get it out and I figured it cost me about 30 places, but all in all it was fun.
I did something I really wanted to do (well almost) I climbed 3/4's of fire tower hill, I couldn't climb the start because some guy fell in front of me but I got the rest and it felt great.
It was pouring when I finished so it was right to the Hayes guys condo to warm up and shower(thanks guys) so I missed alot of the stuff that was going on and never go my time till the following day but I knew it was bad so it was no great loss.
Skipped Rhinelander because of work and really wanted to make up for it in Shawno, decided to Camp even now it was going to be cold and all in all it was really comfortable (except for the leak in the air mattress).
Had a OK pre- ride, the course seemed long and very rough, not good for the back, but I liked it.
Sunday morning came and I was running late with my pre race to do list, never got to warm up till 9:30 so I was worried about the start. Got in the shoot and had a good line up, second row middle, Don calls go and were off. We all stuck together until the third turn and then someone jumped, I knew if I wanted have a good race I had to chase because the first single track has no place to pass. I gun it and I'm about 7th back, a good place for me and I feel good so I hold it.
Into the tunnel and I'm OK sitting about 6th as I get passed but a guy in my age group, well I can't let that happen time to pick up the pace.
First lap on the other side and the legs feel good and I've passed two more guys in my age group, I figure I'm forth in my group and I'm happy with that for now and set the cruise, just then I get passed by a 35+ clyd, "SHIT" I'm in for the chase, I sit on his wheel figuring he ca pull me when "SLAM" he hits a tree and he now behind me again. So what to do? I test him and every time I go I get a gap so the next straight away I go and I'm away I keep pushing and were at the down hill with the soft climb after it. I rail the down hill and get cut off on the climb and what do ya know he passes me again, Run FAT ASS is all I can think at the time.
Were at the lap point and he must have had someone giving him a hand up because he was off the course when he hit the sand and down he went again. I figured I was ok and I needed to turn it back a little because the back was starting to hurt a little and I need some power for the finish.
So I just ride smart and clean everything and make it though the tube clean, one more lap on the start side and I'm in for fourth. I get to the corn field and what do you know he's back(well he's nothing but consistent) I figure I'm not going to give up this way and I giver, I keep the line and I'm first into the single track, I clear all the hills and the rocks and I'm testing him as we go. We hit the last open field( I thought it was the last) and I give it hell to see if I can drop him, it works and i figured I was in the clear until I don't see the finish and realise I went to early, SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. We pop out to the finish road and He passes me and my tank is empty.
I still felt good and I really had a good race. I checked the results and I ended up forth and I was in the race for third, O well it was a good time.
On the home front all is well, Tess will turn two in November , wow where has the time gone. other wise all is good. I will try to post more.
See Ya........................................

Its Offical

Its never really been a problem for me but on Sunday the cork popped and I was in the hurt locker.The worst thing is it happened on a recovery ride. Had a good start, launched a stop ahead attack and the legs didn't like it to much but I just chalked it up to going to hard to early in the ride.
So I sat in for awhile(about 15 min) and started to feel better, see the next sign and off I go, felt good and then POP the legs let go. I look up and here comes a hill and before you know it I'm off the back and when I mean off the back I mean way off. It ended up taking me like 10min with some help to get back on and from there I just sat in.
Its been awhile for that to happen to me, I've tried to stay out of the hurt locker the hole year because I know how it makes me feel for about two or three days after.
Monday when I got up the legs felt like shit and the back was no better so it was no bike but the beer at the Timm's was good. I'll take today off also and maybe the legs will feel better for the ridge on wed. night.
As of right now the race this weekend is up in the air, at first we planned to go up and camp, but with the 40 next weekend and our 5th anniversary on the 13th I don't know if we can swing it with everything else that's going on but we'll see.

The last thing is if anyone is looking for bikes I'm selling. Looking to get rid of my Ferrous and my 5200 road bike.
My Ferrous is a 17.5 and is in great shape and I'll post some pictures later.
The Trek 5200 is size 54 and is like brand new and it has a powertap on it right now, I'm willing to sell it with the powertap or without as I still have the original rims.
Drop me a message if your interested and we'll talk price.

See Yaaa................

First time in a long time

Well for the first time in a long time I had a great race and felt good doing it. At first I figured it was going to suck since I haven't touched the bike since the last race but I even surprised myself.
I got to pre-ride the course Saturday and at first I figure d I was going to die on the climb but then I got into the single track and felt a lot better, the course was fast and had good flow and I figured I could push pretty hard on Sunday. Got back to the hotel and waited for the Sugs and we headed back to the course so they could ride and Erica and I sat and talked to the BIG Gooooooooo! man himself(Don). After we had a good dinner and then it was off to bed.
This morning it was up early to get to the course, the nerves were in full effect and I was second guessing the climb, what to wear(knee warmers ,no knee warmers)(Thanks Goat)and if I ate enough or drank to much before the race, but it was start time and off I went. I did one good thing I warmed up real good on the road, something I mostly never do and it payed off big on the hill climb.
The climb that killed yesterday was a steady pace today and before I knew it we were at the top. Coming off the climb I figure I was eighth or ninth and needing to get off my fat ass and make up some places, passed a few in the field and got another just before the single track, I figure I was about sixth. I then got behind a day of guy that was moving at a good clip and we worked together in the single track but he got a little freaked out in the last section of single track and that was my key to but some time on him.
Into the lap area and I skipped the bottle hand up from Erica and tried to push the tempo to see if I could make up some more spots, up the hill and the flat and into the single track feeling good and the legs were holding much to my surprise.
Half way though the second lap and I eased off just a little knowing I still had the switch back climb to do and knowing what I know now I should have just pushed and not backed off.
Though the single track and I was all by myself pushing just to see if I could catch someone. Into the the last section and I catch two more young guys but no Clyds, I hit the open finish and push as hard as I can but in the end I was 30 sec. short of third place, but this forth felt a better then the third at Sunburst because I really pushed myself to how I know I can ride.
So all in all it was a great weekend. As I sit here and type were in a hotel in Black River Falls as I have to check up on one of my customers tomorrow and program their DVR on there network and do a training class for them, so it really worked out OK in our favor. Hope everybody else had as good of a race as I did.

See Yaaaa................................

Drive up

Had a great drive up, 3 hours and 45min to Eau Claire to stop and see Ericas family. Were heading out for sushi for dinner and then were going to drive up to River Falls.
As of right now the weather looks good, 70's up here tomorrow and mid 60's for Sunday, just the way I like it. The rain they were calling for so far has held off. I'll up load some pictures tonight if I can get on the wireless at the Hotel or at least a better signal on my air card.
More later.
See Yaaaaaaaaa.................................

A wwekend away

Away for the weekend, off to River Falls and then Eau Claire and Black River Fall for work.
Will update when we get up there.

See YAAAAAAA.............................

Pics from Sunburst

24-9 Weekend

Wow what a weekend, 5 hours of sleep and I didn't even race.Had a great weekend with Rob and Candy the Wife and Tess. The weather could not have been better seeing what we have today it could have been worse.
The Sugs(both of them) pulled off a great race, cause at 1am they where in 12th place and by 7am they had moved to 4th even with Rob meeting with the ground a few times.
Times were pretty close every lap and they looked good for the hole 24 hours.
Its weird being support and not racing but it was still fun. Got to see a lot more of things going on and I was a lot more busy then I figured I would be. The hardest part was washing bikes at 4:30am with nothing but a l.e.d head lamp on but all in all it was a fun time.
I also got to see what trouble the timing systems ended up to be for the racers was. The system is a sound idea as I work with RFID for my job but it was all set up wrong in my eyes, instead of three readers they could have used a portal(larger read range) or a double read systems. That way you wouldn't of had to scan your card but I guess it all worked out in the end. The live updates were cool as we could see lap times from all the teams while sitting in the screen tent.
So as I sit at my desk I'm still tired cause I didn't go right to be, I fixed our TV so all the components are know in the bedroom and the only thing you see in the front room id the flat screen, it kind of cool, I got a IR router to move the signal from the front room to the bedroom and it works great and cleans up the room, and know Tess can't kiss the TV any more.
Well I should get back to work, Man I need a nap.
See YAAA...............
will load pictures from 24/9 later.

RIP my good friend

After a long day of worry and some tears of pain we had to put Max to sleep today. A very hard decision after his long life. It was something I never really thought about as he just kept going no matter what his age was but after this weekend all the signs were there.
For those of you who never met him you missed a very loving dog, never a bite or a nip(unless you were a dog and tried to take his bone) and he loved kids almost to a fault.
A better dog you could have never asked for.
All of you that have pets and have ever had to do this you know how it feels, as I sit here I look around for him to see if he need to go out not realizing he's gone, now comes the hard part with putting all his stuff away.

My friend when it is my time to go I hope you are waiting for me at the gates with a ball to play and a leash for a walk.

You will be missed by us all.

A weekend up north

Got to the parents place around 3 AM and it was right to bed cause thats a long ride in the dark.
Got up the next morning and it was 8:30, wow I don't remember the last time I slept till 8:30. Got the motor going and decided it was time for a ride, off I go not knowing where I'm going but figured I'd fine my way. Out HWY 47 and figured I'd head towards Lake Tomahawk and before I knew it the computer was reading 24 MPH and I was feeling better then I have in a while.
Got to the lake and just kept going, 4 miles past and I figure its time to get home, hit the u-turn and WHAM the head wind is brutal, from 24 down to 14 and I'm giving it all I got to get the speed up, get it cranking and I'm sitting around 15.5 and a average of 230 watts. Make the turn back towards Woodruff and I am feeling the burn but it felt good to get out.
Got back and all the girls went to town so I figured I could get in a shower before they get back.
The thing with the shower is there is not a huge hot water tank so you have to have a plan to shower and stick with it or your in a cold shower. I don't know what it is but I think the shower right after a good ride it the best, you feel brand new and clean clean clean.
So after all that I make a phone call to find out where the girls are and find out what were doing today, Erica says, were going to Eagle River, want to go, and away we go. Its a fun time to walk around and look at all the crap thats for sale and it all the same stuff in every shop but Erica got some stuff for Tess and we had a good time.
Got back and my nieces wanted to go swimming so we hit up the beach. The water was cold at first but then got better. Tess was like a fish to water, she wanted to jump right in, hopefully she will be a better swimmer then her father a I sink like a rock.
After that we hit up the play ground and played on all the slides and tee-ter-toters and thats where I thought it was going to end. My niece and I were on the teter and all of a sudden she was on the ground, its not really clear what happened but she says I tried to kill her but I plead the 5th. In the end she was just fine and we all had a good laugh and something we will never forget.
Sunday we hit the road around 10am after some good donuts from Paul's next store. We made some stops on the way and the the best of them all "Union Star Cheese" if you've never stopped you must. Their curds are the best and cheap. So from there it was a straight drive home.
On the way I call the SUG to see how the race went and he asked if we wanted to meet them and go to the Whitefish Bay race, well what the hell, home for like a hour and a half and right back out the door. It was a good race and Tess had a blast watching all the bikes go by.
All in all it was a good weekend and I wish we could do them a lot more. I put in some pictures of the weekend, sorry for the color,there form my phone as the batteries in the camera were dead.

On a sad note it looks like my long time friend and companion Max (our dog) is going down hill fast. at the age of 12 the rear legs are going out and the weekend was hard on him, as much fun as he had I think it may be his last trip. I was in hopes he would make it though the year but I guess thats all up in the air now. The worst part of this is Tess and him are like best friends and she loves him so much. He has had a long life but I just didn't figure it would be so soon. Well I'll know more after I get home and see how he's doing. The Vet says there not much to do just let him have fun and keep a eye on him. I just hope he turns around and makes it a while longer.

Got to go
See Yaa

No Wednesday No Sunday

As the title says I'm out for the racing at the ridge Wednesday and the Sunday WORS race.
Works is ball to the walls as of late and I will be in early and out late the next couple of day as I will be showing one of the office guys how to do one off my jobs they took off my plate. But as you know if your job gets easier it won't be for long, well one day to be exact and I got more stuff added to my title, not much but about another 5 to 10 hours a week of field time to keep my eye on things.
At first I was not very happy about this but after a couple of days its taken hold and rolled in my everyday list of things to do.
For Sunday it looks like we will be up north at my folks place for the weekend, we have been trying to get up there for the last two months but we just couldn't find the time until this weekend. Its a hard choice but Erica really wants to go and after this week with work I think I need some time away and the folks place is just the ticket.
As a added side note, anyone that reads this think looking for a job? My company is looking for a installers. Do you have experience installing cctv ,alarm or access control system or are you good with tools and have some electronics background? We could be looking for you.
Ok back to everything else.... Had a great weekend really doing nothing. Went for dinner with the Sug's and got my sushi fix, caught up with all the tour stages

Ridge Racin

Had fun at the ridge last night, finished two of the three laps of the course as the shoulder couldn't take any more pounding. Most of the course is in good shape but there is still standing water at the bottom of the start hill and sections of peanut butter mud in like four spots.
We ran the WEMS race course last night and I have to say it really felt like a long lap and I wasn't the only one who thought that. We ran a lot of the south west side of the single track backwards and for me it sucked, I can never get any flow in that section anyways but then do it backwards and it twice as bad.
We heard the Ty is thinking about running the downhill switchbacks in reverse, YES more climbing. It would be nice if the course is set by next Wed. night for the race as I would bet the turn out will be big with people who want to ride the lap early.
The bad part is rain is in the forecast for this weekend and next, lets keep our fingers crossed that that changes.
Got some great news from my Mom the other day about my Dad, the first eye surgery was success and the doctor moved up the other surgery to the first of the month, thats great as it was unforeseen how it was going to go. Now their telling him if the second one goes as good as the first he my not even need his glasses anymore, wow, who would of thunk it.
Got a update on my niece too, the surgery took about two hours longer then they said as there was a lot more damage then they figured, it all went well but she had trouble dealing the the meds. so she had to spend the night in the hospital. The next day they had her up and walking with crutches but she said the foot just didn't feel right but they just figured it was from the swelling so she got to home. The next day she ended back it the doctors office because she couldn't stand the pain, off comes the cast to find out it was to tight, so a new cast hand she feels a ton better.
So this weekend will be fun as Erica and I are off, a fun weekend with Tess will be had.
See Yaa..................

Its a TREK thing

I have been thinking about this post for awhile but wanted to do some research before I posted.
I have been hearing people bitch and moan about their products for years but what I found is really funny. Look at all bikes you have in your collection, I will bet at least one of those bikes have something from the Trek bike company.(about 80% of the time)
Its funny but look. Tires,saddle,bars,post,stem,fork,frame all the way down to bar end plugs.
I heard people say "I will never buy a Trek product" but then you look at there bike and low and behold Bontrager componets, "but thats Bontrager not Trek" ya OK...........
Its just a funny little thing to think about.

Great weekend

Even know I wasn't able to get any riding in it was a good weekend. Spent a ton of time with Tess, its hard to believe shes almost two years old, wow has that time gone fast.
We were going to go down to see Candy and Lynn do their Tri but were not sure if we would make it back in time for Erica to get to work but it sounds like all the girls did well, Congrats.
Looks like the week is going to be another full one, jobs are backing up so it time to do some interviewing again. Its not that I hate doing them they just take time that I don't have right know but we need a couple more people to fill our gaps.
Last night was a great night..... NOT....I spent my night in the office till nine trying to play catch up with paperwork since I've been in the field a bunch. The fun part was Erica and Tess came with, it always funny to watch Tess run around the shop like she owns the place. Erica was in shock that she knew right where my office was and how she loves the stock room, it was funny.
Now to the bike stuff, I will try to race on Wed. at the ridge as my fat ass really needs it, I plan on bringing the road bike back to the office so I can stat to ride at lunch again but I haven't even got the tire and cassette back on from when Russ worked on it, so i will plan on doing that tonight after Tess falls asleep.
Looking ahead the weekend looks good, Erica and I are both off so maybe I can get some riding in. Sundays shop ride is a for sure and well have to see about Saturday as I know we really need to clean the garage and basement but who knows. Oh plus we have to get together with the Hoffmans as we haven't seen them in ever and a year.

well got to go
See Yaa.........

Crazy week

The week went by quick with not working Monday so it was like putting 20lbs of sh*t in a five lbs bag but I got most of it done. This is the busy time of the year for our company so all my field guys are now going onto five day weeks. Normally they work four tens but as the work load gets bigger so the days get longer. What that mean for riding, well it means the bike gets put in the work truck with a change of riding stuff and I will get on it when I can.
I got a call from my Mom last week saying my Dad is going to have eye surgery because the found cateracks in both his eye, so Tuesday he went in and got the first on done and all is well, talked to Mom and him yesterday and I guess he can now see better out of the eye they just did so thats good.
Then I find out my niece goes in got surgery today to have her ankle fixed. Shes a baseball player and she slid into a base and screwed up her ankle up, the doctor they went to said its OK just some tendon damage just let it heal for six weeks well not so much. There going in to break her tib/fib add like three screws and re attach the tendons "IF" they can. So shes heart broken because shes out for the rest of the season but shes taking pretty good. So I hope all goes well with that.
Dropped the power tap off at Russ's last night to get it re laced THANKS RUSS. It keeps popping
spokes and its driving me crazy to have to keep re truing it.
Other then that I think Tess has hit the terrible twos early, the last week she has got into everything along with putting a scratch in the plasma t.v. and just about killing one of the cats, and were talking about another one?????? All in all shes pretty good and the words are coming fast and loud (what would you expect she is mine). The best one so far is the statement OHHH NOOO with such conviction, its had not to laugh its so funny.
So my weekend is set a Erica has to work all weekend so I will be playing Mister Mom, got to figure out some stuff to do so we not in the house all day, maybe the museum... the Zoo out since its going to be like 95 tomorrow. We will see.
Well go to get some stuff done.
See Yaa.............

Downgraded

It sits like a pit in the stomach but it was all for the best.
The race went well, all but the start as I ended up in the back but with a little work I started to work my way up from there. The trail was in great shape and all was going well till we got to the pines, way to fast and not enough control, BAM I hit what I think was the only stump in the hole trail. Jacked the shit out of my shoulder but stayed upright. The rest of it was a race and I finished OK, still 2 min down from the leader but in much better shape then other races. The time and distance fits me much better right now and that's what I was hopping for. I figured I would take some shit for it and I was right but in the long run I know it was the right thing to do.
All in all it was a good weekend, I think the best part was the ride home, yes it took forever but Erica and I got time to talk about thing that we have just been taking for granted lately. With my work load we don't have much time together right know and then when I am home she's at work so it ended up to be a good drive in the end.
Yesterday got to do the recovery ride with Tool,Coop(the shit giver),Bubba and Megatron. It was a good 27 miles in around two hours. That's the kind of riding I need but just can't seen to fit in my time line right now, well we'll see what happens in the upcoming weeks.
See Ya.

a sour pill to swallow

Well as I sit here after pre-ride I feel like I kind of took a shot to the ego today. After all that has happened in the last year I made a decision to take a step down in racing classes. After the crash in fall(shoulder still not right) and the lack of training in the off season my racing has turned into a shit pile. So after the week on vacation and really seeing what my fitness level is I made the decision to go to citizen and start over.
Its a hard step but it will be for the best, after finishing most of my races more then 30 min behind the leader its really is the right answer.
So Sunday will be the first race as a Cit. Clyd.
I think the biggest change will be the start time and trying to get ready. As much as it will be a change I know its for the best.
So we will see how tomorrow goes,lets hope I don't take to much shit for it.
See ya at the race.

Vacation

Well we left Tuesday morning to head up to Eau Claire. we figured Erica's family lives up there so we'll make a week of it. The drive was great, a couple of stops to`shop at the outlet malls and the next thing I knew we where here. The weather up here has been great, mid 70's and a nice wind to make it feel great. Hit up the race trail yesterday and the trail is great. There are a couple of places of some wicked sand that will grab the front wheel but the rest of it is dry and fast.
I spent some time today changing the fork out on the bike back to my shock, after last week at the ridge the shoulder has had be still hurting so................... the shock goes back on.
I not quite sure I rode the total right trail as its not marked yet but I know I got to ride a lot of it.
I don't remember there being so many log crossing in the race last year but just another reason for the fork change.
Today we went to a really cool museum about logging in the local are and another museum about Indians from the area. It was fun Tess had a good time until nap time caught up with her.
Well thats about all for now, I just sitting here watching the Blue Collarcomedy tour and eating sour patch extreme candy, now I feel like Jay, you know you just can't have one.

This + This = Trainning

Fowarding from Bubba

MEMORIAL DAY RIDE........ ......... .........

How 'bout a Memorial Day MTB ride on the fine trails of Wauwatosa???

The ride shall depart from Casa de Bubba at 11:00am and hit the woods
for a few hour tour of all the places I've been hurting myself lately.
We can lap past my place a few times in case anyone needs to knock off
early. Fast folks, slow folks....We can break into 2 groups if
necessary or the fast guys can wait for me at intersections and other
strategic points.
After the ride, I will be firing up the grill for some backyard
grilling and bullshitting. So load up a cooler with your favorite dead
animal parts and a few drinks and we'll have at it.

Casa de Bubba is located at 3215 N Menomonee River Parkway
Wauwatosa Wi

Better Late then never

WOW, What a weekend. After the hole thing with Tess we got on the road to Iola around 10am and had a great ride all the way up (thank God for DVD players in the car). Pulled into the parking lot and found out where we could camp, well for three hours until they made us move but it was for the better.
Got all set up and Tess started with a fever again so Erica took her into the trailer and turned on the heater and they watched DVD's till she fell asleep. I on the other hand got to hit up the pre-ride.
Felt good but not the best ever, so I just rolled though it and tried to read the course the best I could. I can tell the difference with the weight loss but the fitness is not up to par yet.
Had a great night sleep even know it was cold as hell out side. We turned the heater up and sleep like a baby until 6 am when the real baby decided it was time to wake us up. Got her out of the loft and she fell right back to sleep until around 7:30 when Erica said is it hot in here or is it just me?I peek my head out and low and behold the suns out, thank you.
So I start to get ready for my race and everything feels good, head out for a warm up and get to the start line, this is weird as I haven't been in this mix in over a year, see a lot of friendly faces and the nerves start. Hear the first GOOOOOOOOOO and now its real, line up and I look up, I'm in the last row but it was all good.
The plan was just to hang on and not DNF. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and were off, had a great start until the brain figured out what I was doing and then it said to the lungs "No Way" but I held on for awhile. End of first lap and I'm over heating, I knew I shouldn't have left the long sleeve base on. I stop a the team tent and strip it off and head back out though the bowl and up the gravel to the first big climb on the second lap "Shit" I feel like shit, the stomach wants food and the legs are empty but there is no way I'm quiting.
I sit in for the ride and by the end of the second lap the hunger went away but the power is fading fast and the last lap is spent talking to myself to go faster FAT ASS. The last pines area was like I was in slow MO even know I knew I was almost done.
Pop out of the pine to stand and put some power down and get a right leg calf cramp that felt like someone shot me but who care I finished.
All in all it was a OK race, not my best but not my worst either. Had a great time and Tess had a blast outside or at least we were lead to believe.
Monday morning comes and the calf is a knot and it painful to walk but it work though it. I took a vacation day to spend the time with the family. Erica says to me that it looks like Tess got jelly in her hair, I'm like OK we'll have to give her a bath later, so we go about doing other stuff during the day and around 3 pm Erica says "LooK at this". "Thats not jelly", "Nope thats a tick" SHIT.
Yep a f'n tick, I cover it with vasaline and let it sit to back out, give it some time and grab it with a tweezers and the things snaps in half,"SHIT".
Call the doctor and we off to children's hospital to have the head cut out, three hours later and its out and Tess took it real good, a couple pokes and a scaple cut and she was good to go.
So all in all is was a soso weekend but it is good to be racing again.

SEE YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....................................................

IF'ie weekend

Well were almost all packed as of last night and set for the weekend and then..............................
Tess hit a 104.3 temp and now all the plans are up in the air. I really want to race but shes way more important then the race. Plus there are eleven more.
So I will keep my fingers crossed the med work and we still may make it but as of right now its not looking good.

Getting better

Things are better all around. The mountain bike is getting all dialed in. Took it out again on Saturday and things all worked great until I got a slow leak in the front tire, babied it home but still got a good 2 1/2 hours in.
Sunday hit up the shop ride and ended up with a good turn out with about 10 strong, did the 23.5 mile loop in 1:26, not bad for a recovery ride. We got about 3/4 of the way though the ride and then everyone started to get antsy, Karrie started of the stop ahead attacks and it was on from there. I would say we went about 6 miles with attack after attack until about 2 miles to go when we all settled back down for the spin back to the shop.
All in all it was a great weekend even know Erica had to work. Thanks to Nana and Papa(my Mom and Dad) for taking Tess for Sunday morning so I could get to the ride.
Did the lunch ride again yesterday and it was awesome outside, thinking about it again today if I can stay in between the rain drops that are coming down right now.
See Yaaaaaaaaaa..........................

GOAL................ Two of them

Weight goal #1 reached. Bike all put together and got out on the dirt. So that makes another two a day as I also road the road at lunch.
The only problem right now is after the first dirt ride the shoulder is killing me. Lets hope this is only because of the first dirt ride.

See Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...............................................

Part of my mind is made up

So this is how the day started, staring at this thing trying to figure out what to do.
Between last night and this morning I made a small step as I figured out I won't be racing single speed in WORS or for the fat tire 40, so what will that mean?

It means the Ferrous gets it first set of gears in two years. X9 all the way around, I really wanted to go with the XO but I do have diapers to buy. So the only thing left is the front derailer,
I am going to have to order one as our shop has none and none of the local shops have one either.
I also upgraded the saddle,pedals and bar ends.
So as it sits right now it will be a 2x9 ridged ass kicker(my ass).
All thats left then is the cables and the front derailer.
See Yaaaa........................

One more piece of the puzzle

One more piece of the puzzle was picked up today,I have been looking into these for awhile and last week I dropped the bills for them. I have been riding SIDI's for the last couple of years but have been waiting for a carbon sole, and look what came out this year.the great part is even the carbon is replaceable.
So all the pieces are together for the year, now I just have to figure out what class I'm going to race this year, singleseed, Clyd or age group? So what do you think? Any help would be great.
Now the weather, rain all day well at the bike shop wasn't that bad but I really need to get out and get a good ride in. The trainer is getting old.
Well its getting late and I need a good nights sleep for once. Soooooooooooo....................
SEE YAA................................................

211

Thats right 1lbs from my first goal of 210, yep thats right 31lbs. The diet has been working and the food has been great, haven't cheated once and I think thats the goal. Last week was a full week of riding, yep seven days straight every day. Then we come to this week and I haven't got a ride in yet.
Work have been a load this week and next week will be the same but I hope to get out tomorrow and Friday.
Got the power tap back and holy shit, they replaced everything even the head units and wiring harness, what a great company. So I will hopefully have a update on that in the next few days.
Short post today but its better then Bubba just cutting and pasting some ones else's stuff on his blog.(After awhile I was starting to think that picture was Bubba)

SEE YAAAAAAAAAAAA.............................

Road Ride 4/6/08

Sunday 10:00 am
Place Extreme ski and bike
Pace No DROP
Course mostly flat
Length 1 hour 30 min

Come one come all

The count down

Ha all'
The week has been slow but the bike has been more fun every day, got out again everyday but today as I has a bunch of stuff to do for work. The new diet is going great, after putting a little back on from the old diet I'm back down to 214 lbs, this is looking good for starting the race season under 200lbs.
On the bike front, I switched out the stock bars on the road bike for some of the new ergo bars(the ones with the flat tops) and have fallen in love with them, the ride just seems better and the hands really feel better. I also sent the powertap in today, ya I know it only been like a month since I talked about it but at least it went out.
On the mountain bike front, the green machine will be seeing gears for the first time since its birth, I really want to she what it will feel like with gears, I still am up in the air if I will race single in Wors but I am for sure riding gears in the 40 this year.
So otherwise things have been well, the family is good and work well its work and I need to get back to it.
SEE YAAAAAAAAAAA.........................................

Check Cleared

Well I guess this means I really need to start training, made up my mind that I'm going to run it with gears this year, that should help with getting dropped on the road.

SEE YAAAAAAAAAAA...........................................

Lunch ride

Good ride today, hit the loop counter clock wise today so that meant a cadence hill day in the saddle. left the shop and looked up to see the flag hanging straight down, well that means no wind, ya right I should know better then that.
The ride out was fine really no wind until I got to the south side of the airport and then the cross wind came, that made the legs burn but all in all it was a good ride. tomorrow their calling for snow, What the "#@*&" so I guess the cross bike is coming with me to work tomorrow.
Got kind of boarded last night so I figured I take a walk though the Steal and Hock it show, seen some old faces but really just went there to kill sometime with Tess and it worked well, soon as we walk in she was sound asleep in the Kelty carrier, made it though the hole show with out one peep.
Diet is going well and I'll have a update on the weight next week. I find it kind of funny how on this diet I'm never hungry but on the ones in the past I was starving. Makes you go HMMMMMMM.
See YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.....................

Taken it off

Yes it is true, the weight is coming off. The new diet is working well and with being on the bike the last 4 out of 5 days is not to bad either. Erica has joined me on the diet it is working for her also.
I found a good 45min lap out by work so I get to ride at lunch. Leave work, west on JJ to Silvernail
and around the airport, back to JJ and back to work. Still with enough time to get cleaned up and get something good to eat. The loop seems good for now as there are some good rollers and a good climb on JJ going west right after 164.
Yesterday I felt the wind, at one point(As the Tool would say) I could have pushed my bike faster then it felt I was riding, it was blowing from north to south and of course I was going west but at the cross over point it felt great to hit the big ring and cruse at 25 with hardly any effort.
Today is my day off but I think I'm still going to hit the ellip. for a good 20 to 30 min at a medium pace to keep the legs feeling good.
Its nice to be able to ride during the day when I have Tess at night, it the best of both worlds. I really want the nicer weather to get here so we(Tess and I) can get out together, she loves the trailer.
See YaAAAAAAA.................................

Better days

Yes thats right I am having better days, back on the diet full speed after the stomach thing, I'm looking at a nine week diet plan from CTS and it looks like I can handle this, the old plan was in my reach but just seeming to slip away, 2lbs last week put the nail in the lid on it. So I started the new one last night, a lot of salad and fish along with fruit and vegies. So I will keep you up to date.
Tess I sick again, but I guess its going around, nothing to bad this time I think its just a cold.
Just forwarded off an e-mail to Saris to get my power tap in for service, hope to have that ready for spring riding.
The rest of the day will be full to the brim since I was out yesterday, so I'm off to a meeting right now and then my be I can go home.

Crap,Crap and more Crap

Thats what this hole weekend was. My plan was to ride this weekend but that was not to happen, I am in the same boat as the TOOL, but my stomach problems have been with me for over a week, they seem to get better but this weekend came back full speed. So I spent Sat. out with the wife and the baby till the wife had to work and then it was just me and Tess, it was fun we played, napped and played some more before we had to pick up mom from work.
We did pick up a new chest freezer for the basement, with all the new foods(trying to eat healthy) we are running out of room in the kitchen fast, plus Pick and Save had great deals on chicken this weekend so we stocked up.
Yesterday was just a Fu@k story, I got woken up at 3am, well I thought it was 3 it was really 4am all because of this stupid time change. The access control systems we put in get all their times from the networks their on, but we have like 100 customers that has stand alone systems that aren't on networks. So with all this stupid time change shit the government has pulled the calenders are off and the daylight savings change never took place. Great, so I get to field calls at 3am sorry 4am to try to tell people we will get right on it.
Now I'm up and I can't get back to sleep, I read a little mountain bike action and I hear "WAAAAAAAAA" SHIT! Yep Tess woke up 4:30am so I pick her up and walk around the house for awhile and shes back of to lala land, to bed I go. 5:30am "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" yep shes back up, now Erica gets up and brings her to our bed, O GREAT, for some reason my daughter thinks my pillow is hers and all hers but Erica holds her till shes asleep , ya for me.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" now its 6:30am I take her from Erica so she can get some sleep, out goes the lights and were back in lala land till like 7:15 and now she wants up and its play time,great.............. Erica gets up and takes her into the front room for breakfast and to watch her favorite show PEEP (it real cute) and off to sleep I go, I wake up and its like 9am(Really 10am), Tess is back in bed and trying to wake me up. OK OK I'm up, lets go do something. Remember what I said about time change, Well our car clock is the same way, so for like the first three hours I was a hour off.
So Today is the same way, the clock right outside of my office was a hour off for half the day until someone just changed it, Shit I'm back off a hour again. I try to plan my day out so I don't get screwed at the end of the day, Well????????????????
I thing I'm just going home early.
See Yaaaaaaaaa..........................................