Tater Bake

Thanks to the Iola Winter Sports Club for another wonderful WORS event. Loads of free fresh dug potatoes for all just one of the great perks WORS always provides that make it not only the best racing series in the nation but one of the best values.
Very tough field. Fourteen minutes better than my time at the series opener on the same course and twelve minutes behind the leader. Forty seconds behind my nemesis, whom I had passed twice in the opening moments. He switched bikes. A 29" hard tail, lighter than his full suspension and providing better traction and acceleration not to mention the larger wheels roll over the roots easier. Can think of a dozen places I could have done better and caught him in the end, all irrelevant if I had more red blood cells. One series of climbs I was just to winded to complete without dismounting.
I made it out of the bowl my second attempt, almost on my first. Set my bike in mid-gear and let it roll. Muscled into the momentum up the other side and just a tad short on the first run. No shifting with so much pressure on the cranks. Tried to get a video of the sport racers but couldn't see the camera screen in the bright sun and was mostly useless.
Took two small bags of potatoes. Five or six of the biggest I could find and then a dozen or so of palm sized. I get the impression my wife doesn't like waiting so long for potatoes to back so I got the small ones to bake quicker. Maybe homemade french fries or something out of the large ones.
I listened to the second half of the Packers game on my way home. 2-1/2 hour drive. Go Packers! Came across a lot of road kill on the trip.
When I bought the wax based lube (White Lightning) the sale person at Crank Daddies said to let it dry after application. After fixing my bike I let it sit an hour before riding it after lubing. The chain seemed to pick up a lot of dirt but it always came off easily but wasn't too happy. Cleaned it thoroughly with a cotton cloth and applied a good amount of more lube and let it sit overnight. Doesn't collect as much dirt know. Fairly clean after the race in the dusty sandy conditions.

Something Odd is Going On

The chain broke again and it just makes me worry over the next race. What was the culprit? We used one of those pins with a lead to join the chain. You snap off the lead when the pin is in place and it was this pin that failed.
I jerry-rigged a work stand for my bicycle by passing an old inner tube over a joist brace and hanging the seat from it. Couldn't find a new pin for my chain tool and never liked that model so I ended up buying a new tool and greatly prefer it over the old one.
Did some work on the Church property this morning, fixed my bike, time to do some writing, attending an Architecture presentation at UWM this evening and of course we work tonight. Just happy I got my bike working correctly. Nothing like You-Tube how-to clips. I added two new clips to my 'God's Good Earth' links. I had an even better addition but I found the music objectionable.
I'm 12 lbs under what I was exactly six months ago. Weighed in 4 lbs higher than last week at 244. I've noticed an unusual trend. Every time I reach 240 my wife creates delicious baked goods and buys me ice cream. Not sure of the motives but I have to say.... Yum!

Ohhh Sweet ......

Missed the last Wednesday Night Race. Couldn't get my bike back together in time. Had some help but had to fine tune it myself. Crank Daddies on the East Side was very helpful and friendly unlike Ben's. Emmery's on Lisbon is always friendly also. Front derailleurs were created for my eternal torment.
Oh Joy! Oh Bliss! What a sweet ride. The brakes have a beautiful touch I never experienced before. First ride Friday on the new gear and ran across a large six point buck on the Hoyt Trail. Next race is a repeat of the season opener. Will be racing the clock as well as the field to mark my improvement. Switched to a wax based lube.



Went to the north woods last week also. I guess I'd have to call the whole week vacation. Hunting season is here. Have two great stand locations.
Took a special picture to bring home to Misao. The new Walmart in Ladysmith. Last year Quik Trip came and everyone was excited about $.29/lb bananas. I believe that is the eighth gas station in the city, fuel depot for the north woods. And this year a new Walmart! Can things get any better? I believe I see the future of Wisconsin. Where it's all happening.

Sunburst

"Awards at 12:00 o'clock." Oh yeah. My best start ever. Finished the long protracted climbs up ski hill and through forest and find myself right behind those I need to beat with time on my side. Looking so good. What a race! 7018 whom I have beaten before finished fourth, five minutes behind the leader of our class who was of course...... I forgot. My chain broke and after a makeshift fix (the die was missing from my chain tool) I made it a bit further before it broke again for good though I made a desperate attempt at a second repair.
What a tight exciting finish I could have been apart of. But I'm happy for those who won. Really. It's true, I'm not kidding. Really really hap-hap-happy.
Sorry to Sunburst we didn't buy their brats or burgers. I hope they sold out. Saved a couple bucks and stopped at Culver's on the way home. Sorry no pictures to share. Was intending to hang around and get some pictures with our new camera of the better racers but after pushing and coasting my bike nearly eight miles and looking at the results board....
Yeah, I finished the race and stayed to applaud the award winners.
But the Packers won so it's all good. Got home to see the second half in the basement on our old magnavox cabinet TV while I disassembled my bicycle into little pieces. Time for those new parts my friend sent me.

Ahhhhhhh Crud!

There I am pushing my bike and before that coasting out of the forest for my second attempt at repairs. Nice to find my wife waiting with her camera. Finally the offending party or parties taken a day prior to the incident. Maybe I shouldn't have made slight last minute adjustments.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Wednesday 'Night' Race

Strange dancing lights in the night forest may lead some to create ghost stories but mountain bikers know better the things that go bump in the night.

Went to the gym today before the race working the chest and back (bis, tris and shoulders on Monday). No energy bars or the like and the heat was a bit more than I like but just missed breaking the 30 minute mark on my laps. Fatiguing the upper body makes the ride more tricky and I've been riding some every day since the last race. Now it's time to rest a couple days and concentrate on some real work. Need some good sleep with this break for my body to recuperate since I wont get much sleep the night before the next race.

Did you see that Polaris commercial where the guy sits all big and proud about riding his ATV up hills others wont? Does the same word come to mind? For me its 'pansy'.

It took me half the night to get this video upload to work not to mention I got stung by a bee during the race on top of that. Oh yeah, I won another tube and chamois butt'r at door prize time.

It's Alive! It's Alive!

We think she believes it is alive. At least until she bit off the tongue and came to a sad realization. She doesn't fret and fawn and whine over it any more or try to get it to suckle. The tail and tongue used to roll out when you squeezed it.
I stopped recording my dog walking on my exercise log. Can I get under the 240 lb mark? I seem to get there and bounce back up. I actually look flabbier at 240 lb but I've come to the last hole on my belt. Must be the way the fat comes off.
Yes we broke down and bought a digital camera. Nothing fancy but look to see more race pictures. Maybe I'll have to set up a Flick'r or gallery account to share.
Should I try to get some spinach and lettuce in this fall? Maybe when it cools off I'll be more enthusiastic to plant. Still plenty of cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. How many types of cucumber salad are there? I stopped counting.
Wednesday night racing can't be canceled tonight! It has been a key for my advancement. Now that I recognize my competitors on the WORS field and start to pass seasoned competitors the fun really begins. It makes one feel alive. I hope others are targeting me also.