Parts for the ride

Got me a set of these last night
From this guy
If he keeps this up I'll own most of his parts.
The worst part was I ran in to him at SAMS club too, but a least his better half was with him so it didn't make it to bad.
All I have to do now is figure out the bars for the Rig and the bikes are finished.
Then I just have to finish the plan for me.
See yaaaaaaaaaa

Don't Forget

The Schedule for this week Extreme Ski & Bike Indoor Training Center is as follows:



Wednesday January 28th.

Start Time: 7:00pm



Saturday January 31st.

Start Time: 7:00-10:00am, ride as long as you like.



Location: Meet at Extreme Ski & Bike, the UCI training center is in the vacant space two doors down from the shop.



BYOT (Bring your own trainer), bike, shoes, however we do have extra trainers if you don’t have one, guests are welcome. Saturday January 24th was our largest group thus far with over ten riders in attendance.

What to do when your sitting on the trainer

Power days

Couple of good days on the bike. A couple of stops to stretch out the legs but all in all the training is coming along well. 216lbs was what the scale read yesterday, that's 19 1/2 down. so I am happy about that. I can now see the goal is reachable and my endurance is starting to come around. 190 by race time? That's the goal and I'm not playing around this year.
Well got to get back to work.
See Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

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reminder

7am to 10am training ride at the shops indoor training center . come one come all. its better then riding alone in the basement.

Training day

sorry for the late post but Extreme ski and bike is having a training ride tonight in the new training center. grab yor bike and your trainer and stop by. 7pm in the store three to the left of the shop.

The sickness has landed

In our house when the sickness comes it comes in full force. For the last week it has run like a train, the cough is the worst because it just won't go away.
I skipped the swap today, I really wanted to go but we have been on a tight budget since we found out Erica's job is going on hold till next fall. I didn't really need anything anyway so it wasn't to bad. A few days ago my Mom said my Dad found a snowblower for us, found as in as "free"? I guess someone in their neighborhood couldn't get it to start and worked on it but then gave up and tossed it when they got a new one. So he worked on it for a couple day and then gave up, so it was my turn. Stopped over yesterday to take a look at it, plugged in the electric start and it just cranked , no fire but you could hear it try. I tinkered for awhile and then looked into the on/off switch, turned the switch back a quarter of a turn, hit the electric start and low and behold the beast comes to life and runs like a champ. I need to replace one of the rubber snow blades but it works great. So for $30.00 in parts(that I got from Ace today)I never have to shovel again(lets hope).
As i sit here Erica's at work and Tess is tearing apart the front room with all her toys. I'm going to try to get on the bike tonight after Tess goes to bed to see if I can force this shit out of my body. I tried to start the training last Saturday but I really only got about 30 min before I had to get off with a coughing fit. Well lets hope tonight goes better.
Got to go
See Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Loooooooooooooong weekend

What a great long weekend. Got to spend a lot of time with Tess and Erica and get a lot of stuff we have been putting off done. We decided to switch bedrooms with Tess as she has a lot more stuff then we do, so she gets the bigger bedroom. That took most of the weekend as we didn’t rush it, just took our time getting most of it done.
I also got everything set up for the training and the diet plan. The training plan and dungeon are set and ready to go for tomorrow, the start of the secret training plan. As the diet goes, that started today and as I’ve been on this one before. I really don’t mind it, the food is good and sometimes it’s too much, as it seems I’m always eating (like right now, PB and J on a whole grain bagel).
The rest of life is just on auto pilot right now, work is slow so I’m trying to get everything caught up and ready for the busy time of year. Erica is looking for a new job right now because Target on 124th is closing for nine months to do a tear down and rebuild. She will be returning after the rebuild but she really does not want to travel to a new store for that amount of time unless she really has to.
Well that’s about all for now.
See Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

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.................................