All in all Ethos ripped dirt and took top spots last weekend at the Sunflower Games mountain bike race. Well, there were only 9 or so experts, but I took 2nd, and Travis took 3rd. That's right, I beat Travis. Hallo-freaking-loo-ya. That's the first time this year, after a couple close calls.
Even better was I was able to hang on to Aarron Elwell's, (if you don't know, it doesn't matter), wheel for half of the race. He then broke loose at the start of lap 3 and started opening up the gap from there. Even on a bad day he's super strong.
Check out the write up over on the Ethos site, along with our newest sponsor, Weston Brewing Company. Super psyched to have these guys on board. They brew great beer, and we look forward to passing plenty of it out to you all in the future.
There's still alot of racing left this year. I've got 8 on the books so far, with that much plus some just in mountain bike racing coming up. It's going to be a great second half of the year. I can feel it...
Later for now
G
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Get Your Oh Face On
That's right ladies and gents...
Presenting my next bike.
The Specialized 2011 Epic S-Works Carbon 29er
I'm going to be so broke.
G
Oh, and if for some chance I see you on this bike before I get one, ride quickly away. I might just have to jack it off you.
Presenting my next bike.
The Specialized 2011 Epic S-Works Carbon 29er
I'm going to be so broke.
G
Oh, and if for some chance I see you on this bike before I get one, ride quickly away. I might just have to jack it off you.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Knob State Park
Great riding at Knob tonight before the monsoon hit. Got the mental course layout for the fat tire race. More details to come but I'm going out on a limb and saying it will be one of the better courses of the year. Fast, fast, fast and flowy with a couple doubletrack climbs and one killer. Some crazy fast downhills, one short tech section and lots of swooping fun turns. Oh ya baby, fat tire heaven.
From me to you via iPhone
From me to you via iPhone
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Plastic Bikes Rule
So I'm convinced. If you can do this shit to a road steed, you can do anything to a plastic mountain ride... Enjoy.
Monday, June 14, 2010
State Champs
Wish I could say Ethos now had a couple, but we were forcefully made to race super strong guys this weekend. All in all it turned out pretty nice.
I was still recouping from the Down and Dirty race the weekend before at Warsaw. Pretty much went like this...
Took the holeshot out of 15 experts, some racer who I won't mention pulled a dick move causing me to wreck doing 20mph into a cedar tree, all the sport and ss class passes, I get up stumble around, get pissed, start raging, work my way back up to 2nd, flat, and end up 6th or so, 1st in the 19-29 only because Justin had two flats for the day. I felt good, but it was just one of those races.
I took the week off, and recovered. Somewhat. Still bruised and beaten a bit.
Friday Travis, Steve, and I headed to the STL for a pre ride of Castlewood. It rained crazy hard for 10 minutes when we showed up. Just enought to slick everything up real nice. The puncture from last weekend that I thought I had sealed came undone, causing me to put a tube in. The opening climb was bonkers, and I eventually opted to run a 34x20 instead of the 19. Figured it would be easier to spin faster instead of grind.
We had 14 Singlespeeders overall. Pretty stoked. Some super stiff comp, including Dan Miller, Dan Furhman, and a national champ Pro, Dejay Birch. Ya I pretty much figured he was going to dominate us all.
We take off, I can't climb for shit, my back wheel falls off at the top of the climb and I'm back off the front by 30 seconds. Pefucked! Manage to work hard and pass Nico from Team Segal and Dan F on the first doubletrack hill. I was raging nicely, and ended up behine Rock Wamsly, who pulled me along the rollercoster section. I noticed that Deejay was up in front and I yelled at Rock to catch "that dude". He did, and we made the pass. I was pretty stoked to be riding in front of a pro at this point.
Making the move on some experts.
It was hot. First lap was good, second lap was a little harder, and the third lap I developed a chain problem. I had popped the chain a few times during the race which didnt sound good. Guess it kinked a link, because on the last lap I dropped my chain 5 times. That was disheartning. I just kept thinking, great now Dan and Deejay are going to catch me. Well I rode like a bat out of hell on rollercoaster to make sure I gave myself extra time on the Grop hill. I noticed Dan F coming up on the last hill and buried myself. Then my chain came off again. I don't know how I held him off but I did. Came in 2nd.
First loser...
Not to bad though, I was happy with it all. I didn't have my climbing legs, which I normally do. Had I had, and had I not had dropped my chain 5 times, I might have been a threat to Dan Miller. As it was though, he beat me by 4 minutes. Super strong charger this year. Glad to see a good dude win it...
So ya, I guess I'm pretty much pro now. I mean Deejay is more of an endurance racer but a pros a pro. I don't think anyone thought we were taking him down, but three of us did. Both Dans and me. Guess Deejay wasn't used to the retarded high humidity we have here in Missery. It was crazy hot. Deejay was a cool dude though, definetly happy to have raced with him.
Travis had the stacked field of the day, he ended up 7th overall, and 6th in his class. Schottler won it. He's absolutely killing it right now. Steve had to pull due to the heat, along with a ton of other people. I don't really mind it, I can deal with it I guess.
Next up is Perry Lake, this Sunday. From the description, it sounds like a good course. Should be good for another 34x20 expert slaying session. I've been enjoying racing Expert on my SS this year. It's challenging, but rewarding. Knowing that I do what they do with one gear and do it just as well. Who knows, I may be a SS convict forever... RIP gears.
G
I was still recouping from the Down and Dirty race the weekend before at Warsaw. Pretty much went like this...
Took the holeshot out of 15 experts, some racer who I won't mention pulled a dick move causing me to wreck doing 20mph into a cedar tree, all the sport and ss class passes, I get up stumble around, get pissed, start raging, work my way back up to 2nd, flat, and end up 6th or so, 1st in the 19-29 only because Justin had two flats for the day. I felt good, but it was just one of those races.
I took the week off, and recovered. Somewhat. Still bruised and beaten a bit.
Friday Travis, Steve, and I headed to the STL for a pre ride of Castlewood. It rained crazy hard for 10 minutes when we showed up. Just enought to slick everything up real nice. The puncture from last weekend that I thought I had sealed came undone, causing me to put a tube in. The opening climb was bonkers, and I eventually opted to run a 34x20 instead of the 19. Figured it would be easier to spin faster instead of grind.
We had 14 Singlespeeders overall. Pretty stoked. Some super stiff comp, including Dan Miller, Dan Furhman, and a national champ Pro, Dejay Birch. Ya I pretty much figured he was going to dominate us all.
We take off, I can't climb for shit, my back wheel falls off at the top of the climb and I'm back off the front by 30 seconds. Pefucked! Manage to work hard and pass Nico from Team Segal and Dan F on the first doubletrack hill. I was raging nicely, and ended up behine Rock Wamsly, who pulled me along the rollercoster section. I noticed that Deejay was up in front and I yelled at Rock to catch "that dude". He did, and we made the pass. I was pretty stoked to be riding in front of a pro at this point.
Making the move on some experts.
It was hot. First lap was good, second lap was a little harder, and the third lap I developed a chain problem. I had popped the chain a few times during the race which didnt sound good. Guess it kinked a link, because on the last lap I dropped my chain 5 times. That was disheartning. I just kept thinking, great now Dan and Deejay are going to catch me. Well I rode like a bat out of hell on rollercoaster to make sure I gave myself extra time on the Grop hill. I noticed Dan F coming up on the last hill and buried myself. Then my chain came off again. I don't know how I held him off but I did. Came in 2nd.
First loser...
Not to bad though, I was happy with it all. I didn't have my climbing legs, which I normally do. Had I had, and had I not had dropped my chain 5 times, I might have been a threat to Dan Miller. As it was though, he beat me by 4 minutes. Super strong charger this year. Glad to see a good dude win it...
So ya, I guess I'm pretty much pro now. I mean Deejay is more of an endurance racer but a pros a pro. I don't think anyone thought we were taking him down, but three of us did. Both Dans and me. Guess Deejay wasn't used to the retarded high humidity we have here in Missery. It was crazy hot. Deejay was a cool dude though, definetly happy to have raced with him.
Travis had the stacked field of the day, he ended up 7th overall, and 6th in his class. Schottler won it. He's absolutely killing it right now. Steve had to pull due to the heat, along with a ton of other people. I don't really mind it, I can deal with it I guess.
Next up is Perry Lake, this Sunday. From the description, it sounds like a good course. Should be good for another 34x20 expert slaying session. I've been enjoying racing Expert on my SS this year. It's challenging, but rewarding. Knowing that I do what they do with one gear and do it just as well. Who knows, I may be a SS convict forever... RIP gears.
G
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Sunshiny Days
I've been busy... To busy for my taste but what can you do. If I had it my way, I'd be laid back, sippin a 40 in the shade while listening to Snoop Dogg beat outta my boom box. That's a warm sunny day for ya. Instead I've been working go go go, and fitting in good rides here and there.
I forgot to post up about the Krug race, but you can find out how that went by clickin on that pretty Ethos logo over there ----- >
Bottom line was it was a bad ass race, and brutal to boot.
Then it was taking it easy for a couple of weekends. That was nice. No racing.
Last weekend Jamie and I did a little ride on the Katy while the Peddlars Jamboree was going on. That was nice. Jamie did awesome, busting out a 30 mile ride off the couch on her Walmart bike. I was impressed. She only complained a bit, mainly about her bum, but my bum hurt too so I can only imagine her's on that shit ass saddle.
Then Kev and I went out for a hot 45 mile gravel grinder the next day. I got a glove tan line. It's pretty sweet. Kevin got to experienc REAL gravel, none of that buff pussy shit. The kind that's hard to ride through and makes keeping it upright downright hard sometimes. It puts the pain on you, and hopefully the DK gravel is a little nicer to him.
Tuesday I took out to Warsaw to do some preriding so that I can give you, the loyal reader, a preview of the upcoming race this weekend. Prepare for fast, chattery, rocky, fun. I recommend a dually or lower tire pressure. It's a bad ass trail system, but jesus, it'll beat the hell out of you. No real big rocks, just a million billion small ones. Either way it's going to be a throw down. Mac even made an eleveated TT shoot to start the TT on Saturday. It was impressive. This cat puts on one hellava race, so I recommend you come down fool.
Last night I did the Spin Pizza ride up at Waldo with Trav and Jamie and some other people, one of which included a douchy wannabe who thought he was cool. That's besides the point. It was a good ride, something like 24.5 average on the main section. Pretty chill going out to the hammer grounds, and coming back, but for that 18 mile stretch, it was on. We almost got killed. Some jackass in an old hoopdy came flying around a corner, did a 180 hit a car on the oncoming lane and then sped off. What a dick. Luckily we were 30 seconds to late, and he passed us before failing the corner. The pizza at Spin Pizza is amazing... Well I didn't really eat it but I've heard so. Either way this Wednesday night ride is a must do. 30 miles and it leaves at 6:15.
So there you go homie, the almost bi-weekly G-Wiz update. Hope to see you this weekend... Find the dirt here.
Also, recieved my ultrabadass Kuat NV rack a few weeks ago. I'll post up about how amazing it is soon. Let's just say it pretty much makes any other rack look like childs play. It's legit, to legit to quit.
Adios
G
I forgot to post up about the Krug race, but you can find out how that went by clickin on that pretty Ethos logo over there ----- >
Bottom line was it was a bad ass race, and brutal to boot.
Then it was taking it easy for a couple of weekends. That was nice. No racing.
Last weekend Jamie and I did a little ride on the Katy while the Peddlars Jamboree was going on. That was nice. Jamie did awesome, busting out a 30 mile ride off the couch on her Walmart bike. I was impressed. She only complained a bit, mainly about her bum, but my bum hurt too so I can only imagine her's on that shit ass saddle.
Then Kev and I went out for a hot 45 mile gravel grinder the next day. I got a glove tan line. It's pretty sweet. Kevin got to experienc REAL gravel, none of that buff pussy shit. The kind that's hard to ride through and makes keeping it upright downright hard sometimes. It puts the pain on you, and hopefully the DK gravel is a little nicer to him.
Tuesday I took out to Warsaw to do some preriding so that I can give you, the loyal reader, a preview of the upcoming race this weekend. Prepare for fast, chattery, rocky, fun. I recommend a dually or lower tire pressure. It's a bad ass trail system, but jesus, it'll beat the hell out of you. No real big rocks, just a million billion small ones. Either way it's going to be a throw down. Mac even made an eleveated TT shoot to start the TT on Saturday. It was impressive. This cat puts on one hellava race, so I recommend you come down fool.
Last night I did the Spin Pizza ride up at Waldo with Trav and Jamie and some other people, one of which included a douchy wannabe who thought he was cool. That's besides the point. It was a good ride, something like 24.5 average on the main section. Pretty chill going out to the hammer grounds, and coming back, but for that 18 mile stretch, it was on. We almost got killed. Some jackass in an old hoopdy came flying around a corner, did a 180 hit a car on the oncoming lane and then sped off. What a dick. Luckily we were 30 seconds to late, and he passed us before failing the corner. The pizza at Spin Pizza is amazing... Well I didn't really eat it but I've heard so. Either way this Wednesday night ride is a must do. 30 miles and it leaves at 6:15.
So there you go homie, the almost bi-weekly G-Wiz update. Hope to see you this weekend... Find the dirt here.
Also, recieved my ultrabadass Kuat NV rack a few weeks ago. I'll post up about how amazing it is soon. Let's just say it pretty much makes any other rack look like childs play. It's legit, to legit to quit.
Adios
G
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Races You Dominate and Races You Survive
I think that once someone has raced long enough, he or she encounters both. Race you dominate, and races you survive. Wilson Lake was a race I survived. That being said, I can honestly admit it was the hardest XC race I've ever done, and third hardest race overall only losing to Syllamo and Ouachita.
Doug and the crew must first get my kudos. They put on a great race, and I guess they have good karma too, because the weather was spot on.
I've never ridden this course although we've had many spoiled plans on trying to get up there the last few months. We arrived Saturday around 2, checked into our lovely casa, and headed over to do the hill climb. Let me say that warming up for 10 minutes doesn't do much in regards to preparing for an all out assualt on a hill climb.
The crib. An old converted grain shed, into a nice little four bed bunkhouse.
The outhouse which I never did find my way into...
It was fun to line up and race up the hill though. I didn't do so well, had problems getting going, and then almost came to a complete stop on one of the grass switchbacks. I think I ended up at 2:27, just three seconds shy of Travis's 2:24 and not even close to Aaron's 2:10. Cam put down a 2:15. I think I was 5th overall or so... I had burning lungs, dead legs, and a smokers cough, but damn it was still a hoot.
We took a little ten mile preview ride after that. I stuck with Cam, Trav, and Aaron E. I felt amazing. Didn't even feel like I was putting in that much effort, and kept thinking, these hills aren't too bad. I should have know I would eat my words the next day.
We arrived at the race Sunday morning after an amazing nights sleep. Something about being out in the country makes me sleep well. It was quiet, minus the owners dog who I think was protecting us from unseen predators by barking non-stop all night long.
I did a short warmup, after learning from my warm up mistake last week at Neosho. We lined up, and all be damned, there was another SS Expert! I knew this dude was serious, mainly because he was rocking a 17 pound GF Superfly, and also because he kicked my ass on the hill climb the day before.
We took off and I spun my brains out. Too much road for my taste to start, specially going up agains 16 other geared experts. Then there were us two SS'ers. He got a good postition, my wasn't bad. I came into the trail in about 10th.
We bobbled the first tech section and come the first hill I was able to pass a few riders. The next hill I did the same, where upon I'd stumble into my finishing spot, 6th.
The race was long... 27 miles of Wilson Lake goodness. I felt pretty good for the first 8-10 miles but then hit a wall. My legs went dead and I lost contact of eventual 1st place 19-29 rider, Justin G. I caught him early and rode for him a bit, but once the hills really kicked in, he was gone.
The race was a blur, as that's the way surviving usually plays out. There were times where I cursed my choice to race Expert on a SS. There were times where I wondered why the hell I even put myself in those situations. Why would anyone want to hurt this bad? I'm going to quit. No, I'm not, because I'd never hear the end of it. That is the one up side of having a bunch of dickhead buddies who you ride and race with. They're never short on sharp blows to the ego if in fact you do puss out and DNF.
I eventually manned up and decided that I was going to finish, and damnit was I was going to do it in style. I knew I was in 3rd in my group, but what I didn't know was that just up ahead, Cam had to pull out do to a major bonk.
The first 17 mile lapped passed and Amber was spot on with my bottle handup. From there it was counting down the last 10 miles. I knew once I got to mile 7, I'd be home free. That was the turn off.
Those last 10 miles were actually not as bad as the last 7 of the first lap. I muscled my way up most of the hills, but did have to dismount and briskly walk some. I had cramp twinges starting at mile 12, and had to be super careful to ride smart and not entise the cramps to full bore, laying on the side of the trail in the fetal postition, debilatating cramps. That would cost me time, and places. I had made it this far and wasn't giving up ground now.
Once we hit the turn off, it was one more big climb and then costing flats to the finish. I pounded my sprint to the finish mainly out of a pure estatic feeling of being done. It was over, I had survived.
There are times when you want nothing more than to give in and break under pressure. Times when you don't think you have anything else left to give, and that the next step is throwing in the towel. I think what seperates the good from the best is that the best know how to break through the wall, and pull through it no matter how bad it hurts, or how horrible you feel. This was one of those races. It took every last mental ounce of energy I had to finish like I did, but the upside of pushing yourself past your known physical limit, is that next time, you know you can push just a little harder.
Ethos had a good showing, with Travis taking 2nd overall, and his age group to a raging Aaron Elwell, Kevin doing what he does best, and rocking the 40-49 sport group, and I managed 2nd in the 19-29 and 6th ove 18 overall experts. Cam had a bad day, shit happens, and he had to pull. Sometimes no matter how bad you want to, you really can't push on. Luckily for me, I managed, and now I'm feeling like my legs got ran over by the beer truck. Get strong little men, get strong...
G
Doug and the crew must first get my kudos. They put on a great race, and I guess they have good karma too, because the weather was spot on.
I've never ridden this course although we've had many spoiled plans on trying to get up there the last few months. We arrived Saturday around 2, checked into our lovely casa, and headed over to do the hill climb. Let me say that warming up for 10 minutes doesn't do much in regards to preparing for an all out assualt on a hill climb.
The crib. An old converted grain shed, into a nice little four bed bunkhouse.
The outhouse which I never did find my way into...
It was fun to line up and race up the hill though. I didn't do so well, had problems getting going, and then almost came to a complete stop on one of the grass switchbacks. I think I ended up at 2:27, just three seconds shy of Travis's 2:24 and not even close to Aaron's 2:10. Cam put down a 2:15. I think I was 5th overall or so... I had burning lungs, dead legs, and a smokers cough, but damn it was still a hoot.
We took a little ten mile preview ride after that. I stuck with Cam, Trav, and Aaron E. I felt amazing. Didn't even feel like I was putting in that much effort, and kept thinking, these hills aren't too bad. I should have know I would eat my words the next day.
We arrived at the race Sunday morning after an amazing nights sleep. Something about being out in the country makes me sleep well. It was quiet, minus the owners dog who I think was protecting us from unseen predators by barking non-stop all night long.
I did a short warmup, after learning from my warm up mistake last week at Neosho. We lined up, and all be damned, there was another SS Expert! I knew this dude was serious, mainly because he was rocking a 17 pound GF Superfly, and also because he kicked my ass on the hill climb the day before.
We took off and I spun my brains out. Too much road for my taste to start, specially going up agains 16 other geared experts. Then there were us two SS'ers. He got a good postition, my wasn't bad. I came into the trail in about 10th.
We bobbled the first tech section and come the first hill I was able to pass a few riders. The next hill I did the same, where upon I'd stumble into my finishing spot, 6th.
The race was long... 27 miles of Wilson Lake goodness. I felt pretty good for the first 8-10 miles but then hit a wall. My legs went dead and I lost contact of eventual 1st place 19-29 rider, Justin G. I caught him early and rode for him a bit, but once the hills really kicked in, he was gone.
The race was a blur, as that's the way surviving usually plays out. There were times where I cursed my choice to race Expert on a SS. There were times where I wondered why the hell I even put myself in those situations. Why would anyone want to hurt this bad? I'm going to quit. No, I'm not, because I'd never hear the end of it. That is the one up side of having a bunch of dickhead buddies who you ride and race with. They're never short on sharp blows to the ego if in fact you do puss out and DNF.
I eventually manned up and decided that I was going to finish, and damnit was I was going to do it in style. I knew I was in 3rd in my group, but what I didn't know was that just up ahead, Cam had to pull out do to a major bonk.
The first 17 mile lapped passed and Amber was spot on with my bottle handup. From there it was counting down the last 10 miles. I knew once I got to mile 7, I'd be home free. That was the turn off.
Those last 10 miles were actually not as bad as the last 7 of the first lap. I muscled my way up most of the hills, but did have to dismount and briskly walk some. I had cramp twinges starting at mile 12, and had to be super careful to ride smart and not entise the cramps to full bore, laying on the side of the trail in the fetal postition, debilatating cramps. That would cost me time, and places. I had made it this far and wasn't giving up ground now.
Once we hit the turn off, it was one more big climb and then costing flats to the finish. I pounded my sprint to the finish mainly out of a pure estatic feeling of being done. It was over, I had survived.
There are times when you want nothing more than to give in and break under pressure. Times when you don't think you have anything else left to give, and that the next step is throwing in the towel. I think what seperates the good from the best is that the best know how to break through the wall, and pull through it no matter how bad it hurts, or how horrible you feel. This was one of those races. It took every last mental ounce of energy I had to finish like I did, but the upside of pushing yourself past your known physical limit, is that next time, you know you can push just a little harder.
Ethos had a good showing, with Travis taking 2nd overall, and his age group to a raging Aaron Elwell, Kevin doing what he does best, and rocking the 40-49 sport group, and I managed 2nd in the 19-29 and 6th ove 18 overall experts. Cam had a bad day, shit happens, and he had to pull. Sometimes no matter how bad you want to, you really can't push on. Luckily for me, I managed, and now I'm feeling like my legs got ran over by the beer truck. Get strong little men, get strong...
G
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