I found out how easy....

it was to just sit on the couch last night instead of riding my third hour this week. It's not something I wanted to start doing it just happened. I am way ahead of last year and plan to stay there. I've got goals!!!

Logged another hour

Last night I rode another hour and it was the best hour I've spent on my trainer. Kept the pace up the whole time with resistance to make it seem like I was going uphill. I'm sure the first uphill at Iola will have me wanting to lay down in the fetal position crying but hopefully this year will bring more top ten finishes if I keep progressing. I know that riding on a trainer is no substitute for the real thing but I can hope. It's better than working though.

Olympic Mtn Biking in Wisconsin

Carrie showed me an article online that said with Chicago's bid for the 2016 summer games the mountian and road bike portions would be in SW Wisconsin. Tyrol Basin for the MTB portion. I can't wait and I hope it happens. I for sure will be there.

Too much, too soon

Last night the ride only lasted half an hour. Apparently after 2 1/2 months off the bike my tolerance for sitting on a bike seat needs to be built back up if you know what i mean.

I had a spare hour...

so I put in an hour on the trainer. I am ahead of schedule for the week. Hopefully I get another hour tonight. I posted a poll on the WORS website to see how many hours/week other people are riding and I may need to step it up a bit. Almost 40% that have answered are in the 5-10 hours/week range. I'm not sure I can spare an hour everyday but I'll just have to see what happens. Last night's ride went by faster than normal but my tailbone is killing me today. It's an injury from two seasons ago that still won't go away. It makes riding for extended times uncomfortable until it goes numb and then all is well.

Goals for 2009

1). Finish better than 10th in points (Last year 10th)
2). Race all 12 races (Last year 11 of 12)
3). No DNF's (2 last year)
4). Get a podium finish in one WORS race (None last year)
5). Race in the 12 hour race at 9-Mile, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Watched some last year)
6). Get picked in the lottery for the Chequamegon 40 mile race (Not drawn last year)

Why is it......

that it is so hard to start riding on the trainer? It is almost like the world might end if I have to ride my bike in the workout room. Well I got myself on the bike this last week for 1 hour on Tuesday and 1 hour on Thursday and I'm still here to write about it because the world didn't end. In fact it wasn't that bad at all. Crank up some tunes and get to work. I think I have already logged more hours than last winter. I plan to add some weight training too because I had a little upper body fatigue at some races last year. The move from Citizen to Sport class last year requires a little more work.

Better late than never!

Finally posting about last October. After the final race in Sheboygan last October, I thought it might be time for some upgrades to my bike. I added a Bontrager ACC carbon seatpost and a set of Bontrager Race X Lite Switchblade carbon forks. I have ridden the bike one time on signletrack since the upgrade and that was last November. I won't talk about how much it costs to reduce the weight of the bike by about 1.5 - 2 pounds but is sure looks cool. The bike is hanging in the garage now for the winter and I have my old Trek 4300 on my trainer in the basement.

Cyclist's Bucket List

"The Cycclist's Bucket List: 100 Things You Need To Do In This Crazy Life!" was published in the March 2009 issue of Mountain Bike Action ...here is the line-up!
1. Ride Crested Butte, Colorado.
2. Ride Whisteler Mountain Bike Park.
3. Ride a new Rock-Shox Boxxer fork.
4. Ride La Fenasosa Bike Park in Spain.
5. Enter an MBA subscription sweepstake. (X)
6. Use the plastic brake stop to keep your brake pads from moving while transporting your bike with a wheel off. (X)
7. Visit Mellow Johnny's: Lance Armstrong's bike shop in Austin, Texas.
8. Ride a fork with a new 15-millimeter thru-axle.
9. Ride outside Whistler in Pemberton.
10. Ride the main loop on Gooseberry Mesa, Utah.
11. Race a cross-country mountain bike race. (X)
12. Try Shimano's Thermo-Form Technology shoes.
13. Volunteer at a local youth mountain bike club.
14. Ride Specialized's brand of tires. (X)
15. Ride a Giant Trance at a local bike shop demo day.
16. Use a CO2 cartridge to fill a tire. (X)
17. Do an overnighter in the wilderness.
18. Race a Super D event.
19. Watch a riding buddy who just flew past you crash.
20. Ride the Ketchum, Idaho's, Sun Valley trail network.
21. Test ride a Niner.
22. Race the Iceman Cometh.
23. Do a night ride. (X)
24. Ride from the base of a mountain into a snowstorm.
25. Ride Asheville, North Carolina.
26. Ride Sedona, Arizona.
27. Take somebody on his or her first real mountain bike ride. (X)
28. Take a $5000 plus bike out for a demo ride.
29. Stop to enjoy a spectacular view. (X)
30. Wear a T-shirt from Fox Racing Shox's cool clothing line.
31. Ride a single-speed.
32. Try handlebars an inch wider than you're using now.
33. Do a night ride with only moonlight to guide you.
34. Volunteer for trail maintenance. (X)
35. Take cover from a lightning storm.
36. Visit Troy Lee Designs' amazing showroom.
37. Swap a tire in less than five minutes.
38. Learn to adjust your rear derailleur. (X)
39. Learn to replace brake pads.
40. Ride anywhere in Southern California in the dead of winter.
41. Ride at least five of seven parks along Louisiana's I-20 corridor.
42. Do a shuttle run at Downieville, California.
43. Visit Durango and ride the Colorado Train and the Hermosa Trail.
44. Sneak into the Interbike trade-only show.
45. Carry a shock pump in your hydration pack.
46. Ride with clipless pedals. (X)
47. Visit Evolution bike ship at Wistler Mountain Bike Park and say "Hi" to Jenine & Jonathan.
48. Attenda a park or forest planning meeting.
49. Lead a lost hiker to safety. (X) Girl Scout Troop
50. Build a jump bike and learn how to tabletop.
51. Ride one of Trek's new trail bikes featuring ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension. (X)
52. Ride Ray's MTB Indoor bike park near Cleveland.
53. Make friends with a horse rider on the trail.
54. Take a point-and-shoot camera with you on your next ride and use it.
55. Ride The Wombler in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
56. Attend the Summer Gravity Camp in Whistler.
57. Shake Ned Overend's hand.
58. Change somebody else's flat tire. (X)
59. Learn to replace your derailleur cables.
60. Ride Slickrock at Moab, Utah, and then go ride the real trails.
61. Ride the trail network in Ashland, Oregon.
62. Fix up an old bike and give it to someone who can't afford it.
63. Join IMBA.
64. Break something important on your bike during a ride and still figure out a way to ride it out.
65. Enjoy the feel of new grips and tires. (X)
66. Ride Copper Canyon in Mexico.
67. Attend the Crankworx Festival.
68. Test ride a Giant Glory DH.
69. Find a shoe that fits you perfectly.
70. Put an adjustable seat post on your trailbike. (X)
71. Ride a Scott Genius trailbike.
72. Downhillers should try Mavie's Deetraks wheelset.
73. Watch The Collective film project "Seasons". (X)
74. Make a 20-song training mix for your iPod and crank it.
75. Clear a climb that you've never cleared. (X)
76. Really learn how to use your brakes.
77. Teach a new rider to give right of way to a rider who is climbing.
78. Show somebody a trail or loop they didn't know about.
79. Take a kid on a mountain bike ride. (X)
80. Eat a giant bean-and-cheese burrito after an epic ride.
81. High-five "The King" Steve Peat.
82. Talk to kids about bicycle safety. (X)
83. Ride at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, Nevada.
84. Build your own pump track.
85. Bleed your own brakes.
86. Show more appreciation to bike shop employees who bleed brakes. (X)
87. Use a GPS to track a ride.
88. Get a video camera, mount it to your helmet or bike and make a movie.
89. Ride the North Umpqua Trail in Roseburg, Oregon.
90. Take a three to five-day guided mountain bike tour.
91. Ride a pump track.
92. Ride tubeless tires.
93. Ride Snowshow, West Virginia.
94. Ride Highland Mountain Bike Park in New Hampshire.
95. Ride a Santa Cruz Blur LT.
96. Do a mountain bike-packing trip.
97. Race a 24-hour event with three friends.
98. Attend a mountain bike World Cup.
99. Check out Don Hampton's collection of mountain bike videos at dh-productions.com
100. Attend the Sea Otter Classic