I've Been Slimed!

The magic is back. They cut back the number of prizes this year for Wednesday night racing but I walked away with a slime tube, which I may never use. Additional tire weight is equivalent to twice the weight added to the frame per rotational inertia, at least when accelerating and braking. I have to adjust my headset. It is loose and gave me problems in the race. Finished five minutes faster than last week..... but so did everyone else.

Work, a wedding and two birthdays kept me up much of the weekend. Lack of sleep and an all you can eat buffet is a bad combination. Take away the festivities and attending the WEMS race may have been a wiser choice in regards to my weight, but I gave up the first endurance race of the season. Hope I can make 9 Mile.

Another mountain bike movie, "Home" out on the market. Funny I didn't see it on the marquee when my brother, whom I seldom see, and I went to see "Speed Racer" Sunday night. I had a flashback to my childhood as they approach the Grand Prix. Thought the movie would end and leave me hanging for seemingly endless reruns until I could see the conclusion. We actually really enjoyed it.

Been lucky with the bugs this year, and most of last year. I find that when needed Cutter Outdoorsman water resistant sport formula stick repellant actually lasts through a race. Douse the clothes with OFF but it's minimally effective. Sun screen is a good idea too.

Spring Has Sprung

Wednesday night racing started last night at Crystal Ridge ski hill. The course was rugged. Hard, rutted and bumpy through Kevin's Heaven, more like a rock garden of hardened earth rather than stone. Most of the course ran well. Though many parts were new this year compared to last year the course ran the same time wise. With my laps averaging just under 35 minutes I am doing 8 minutes overall better than last year and felt good through the end of the third lap. Didn't win any raffle prizes even though I needed another new tube. Picked up a nail last week and am down to one new spare. Why God! Why!

Believe it or not there is more to Spring than Wednesday night races. The peach tree I planted a few years ago bloomed big for the first time this year. Misao is excited that we might get some fruit. Also planted a Holly to shade this basement window to block the glare. My wife works at a table under the window.

Not too patient in the gardening area so I tend to plant the radishes, lettuces and spinach and such that can tolerate the cooler spring temperatures. Especially this Spring and we all know it's the weatherman's fault. Spent three plus hours vigorously pulling weeds, mixing and turning soil at Church. Harder on ones back than any ride.

Another sign of Spring. I found this Crane egg on our flood wall coming back on one of my recent rides. Obviously pirated by gulls. (GO Brewers!)

Here's an interesting product someone posted on the WORS message board. Yes people are ranting about gel packs littering the trails and passing among other things.

And the evil evasive (or invasive) species infecting our natural environments garlic-mustard dominates parts of the trail at Hoyt Park. I stopped last week to pull some out before it goes to seed. Met the Beer-man on my way home as he was biking to Harley Woods to meet the DNR about that bear. He said it was futile to pull the stuff up when the river will just carry more in and the seeds last for years.

Thanks Beer-Man. My life is an exercise in futility. Meaningless. I'll just go home and sulk in the corner with my dog that's dying.

There's a country song in there somewhere.... Always wash your bike to stop the spread of evasive species.

Chillfest 2

It was just plain cold at the Grand Geneva Resort for WORS 'Treadfest 2.' The second year for this event and the second year of deep chill. It didn't rain on the Elite racers this year and their race being later in the day they surely considered the conditions perfect.

A beautiful setting, this picture was taken during the final race. The course challenging mind and body the entire way, with some changes from last year. That ten foot drop appearing straight down and a straight up on the other side... fantastic. Just peddle into it, take the G's and fly up the other side. An exclusive course not open to the public. Built by racers for racers.

The overall citizen results showed the course a couple minutes longer than last year and I finished over a minute faster. Marked improvement though I only finished 10th out of a field of 18. The citizen Clydesdale 35+ category the largest field of racers so far this year, with many accomplished WORS competitors. I have buried those I was chasing last year in the series competition and have two reachable challenges before me. Fifth in the series, the difference between me and the gentleman in fourth is 20lbs. Still heavier than I was last year losing a pound a week isn't enough. Hope to get to 240 (245 on the WORS scale) by my birthday, mid-July.

The cold means nothing after the start. The opening climbs, with an intimidating downhill in between spread out the field. Weaving through two or three crashes in the opening sections of single track I entering one section and noticed a rustling in the bushes. Vaguely made out a racer. I'm still wondering how he got so deep into the bushes.

Was discouraged by the clock after my first lap, not realizing it was ten minutes off. A 31 minute first lap followed by a 34+ minute lap. Nothing to challenge me in the second lap. No Clydes to chase in front of me and no one challenging from behind. Only a few women racers, starting three(?) minutes behind, actually passed me. Hopefully that wont happen in future races.

I couldn't find the rock garden though I got some video shots of the Sport leaders on the bench and the Elite start. For photos I tried the scenic setting on the camera rather than the sport setting to keep the flash from going off in the forested sections.

A wedding will keep me from the first WEMS race of the season. Wednesday night races begin tomorrow at Crystal Ridge.

Treadfest Start

Iola Start

Iola Bump and Jump 2008

Part of the parking at the Iola WORS MTB race.

The course was a tad slower than last year with some wet areas that, depending on how heavy you are, felt like 'putting your car into low gear', as one racer described it. The climbs were a struggle for me with the soft earth. Compared to the dust fest of last year it is hard to deny some rider's claims that 'the course was perfect.'

The race tempo revealed that my bike needs slight adjustments to the rear derailleur. My worn back tire failed to lift me over a large root on a climb. Actually could drop to the small ring but the shifting still isn't perfect. All in all the bike did well.

I'm still coughing stuff up out of my lungs and I was a touch dehydrated. I also weighed in 6 lbs above my weight of last year at this same race. Never got near my training goals over the Winter either. But all that was incidental.

The real problem was not fueling my body properly. Frustration over my weight gain kept me from eating much as the race approached. Friday morning I went out for a ride without breakfast. I had a big spaghetti dinner Saturday, the night before, but as one of my competitors mentioned, after the race, you need to start getting the proper carbs/nutrition into your system four(?) days before the race. As soon as the race started I knew I was running on empty. A big bowl of peanut butter Captain Crunch before I left home at 6:00 am, an energy bar and sport drink were about all I had to keep me going. I had more energy 'finishing' the Rhinelander marathon race (20 miles) last year than I had at any point in this race (10 miles). I was passed by a couple of fellow Clydesdales in the second lap which is something that usually never happens after the first lap.

Well. I defeated some riders I was chasing last year. One said this was the first time he had been on his bike this year and another had surgery over the winter. Several in my race classification commented on my strong start (I thought my legs would give out any minute). Ultimately I was over 5 1/2 minutes faster than last year. At 39 minute laps it may appear I am far from laps under 30 minutes but..... I'm not.

Next Race

Water Bottles

I often forget my water bottle on my bike after a ride. I was leaving for a ride last week and took the old bottle out of the rack and called for my wife. I threw it into the house and it landed at her feet on the kitchen floor. I put my fresh bottle in the rack and rode off.

When I arrived home I found the very same bottle in the yard. My wife blamed the dogs. It was far from my best bottle and if you participate in any riding event or race you probably have plenty of bottles yourself, often included in what is called a schwag bag. A bag of free promotional items often including a gel packet and sample size Cliff Bar.

Water bottles often fail around the base of the nozzle collar. The plunger nozzle usually doesn't open and close easily resulting in material fatigue due to undue force on the collar. Some styles are also hard to clean with a small opening at the top. Things can start to grow inside if you're not careful.

The WORS water bottle is a superior product. Available for purchase at any WORS event. It is easy to clean with a wide opening and the nozzle pops in and out very smoothly. It is somewhat larger than most nozzles. It is also part of the schwag for WORS' premier mega event, the 'Subaru Cup'. At least it was last year.

I most often ride with Gatorade in my bottle when I'm exercising. When there is a race or I'm going for a long hard ride I'll use the better stuff. I'm sure I'll go through several bottles when I try some three hour races this year. Not sure if I'll have the same thing in every bottle.

I tried the Blogger poll feature a while back. Results still at the bottom of the page. Happily there is no one who has 'never been here once'. Half said this is the 'best MTB blog ever' and only one claimed they are stalking me, but that was my wife so... ...?...!

I think the dogs were framed!

Gels and Powders and Bars. Oh My!

Race season is about to start and went out for 18 miles on this beautiful day that was supposed to be cold and rainy. Time to prepare for the best way to keep your body going strong for race day. Of course there is nothing like a spaghetti dinner the night before.

I find gels a bit awkward. Bought some Cliff Shot Bloks last year that I prefer and like to eat one after warming up before the race with something to drink. Of course while you're racing you don't want a chunk of gelatin or energy bar flying down the wrong tube. I see the wisdom of a gel and I'm sure I'll be using the gels frequently during any three hour races I can make it to this year.

I used to use 'Strive' in my water bottle; a Quixtar/Amway Global product that really boosted my energy and tasted very good. They don't carry it any more so I get an AIM product from a friend of mine, 'Peak Endurance', that contains Peak ATP along with a bunch of other good stuff, but it tastes bland. The results are equivalent.

The energy bar is often my breakfast before a race. I have a whole collection of bars and the free Cliff Bars from WORS are consumed eagerly before each race. Snickers had a limited edition CHARGED bar that contains caffeine, taurine and all your B-vitamins. I bought some up at 3 for $1. They'll make a good after race snack for my drive home since I seldom sleep much the night before a race. I also like to have a supply of various bars for hunting season. Something to put in the survival pack.

These drinks also from Quixtar have everything you need but the carbs including ginseng in its proprietary herbal blend. Goes well with my energy bars for breakfast or sometime before race prep. HIRO energy drinks with noni juice are good too, but you can always buy the noni juice and add it to any drink you like.
Now this stuff is liquid vitality, energy distilled, raise you from the dead make your wife scream kind of stuff. Blood soaked velvet antler with a slew of other good stuff. And like anything that is truly good for you it tastes like dirt. Each individual packet was well over $10 when we got these. Been sitting in the fridge awhile. Better use them up this year.

Run Fat Boy

This weather is torture. Just tired of bundling up to go for a ride. At least the Hoyt Park trail should be great riding after a dry day or two. Metro Mountain Bikers had a trail day Sunday there but I couldn't make it.

A good friend gave us some movie passes for this Saturday. My wife wanted to see "Shutter" because it had a Japanese director. Most likely a remake of another ghost in the machine Japanese horror flick. We settled on "Run Fat Boy Run" and we both enjoyed it immensely.
Now my wife keeps saying; 'Run Phillip run!' Surprisingly manly in a way for a love story.

I saw a lot of runners out in the parkway when we had that thaw in January. Two runners were making snowballs and tossing them at a post. One hit it dead on. He looked so proud of himself. I thought to myself; "Someday they may even learn to ride a bike."

I would need to lose at least 30lbs for me to try the trail run series. Just don't want to put my knees at risk. Would be a worthy challenge to do both the trail run and WORS race.

My wife started cooking up some bacon the other day and I came walking in the kitchen. My dog Tun-tun pushed open the door and walked in from the other side. We (the dog and I) looked at each other and then at my wife.

She laughed and said; "You're both the same. Every time I start cooking meat you both walk into the kitchen."

Grilling weather coming fast.