Street Cred to the Howling

Not often does a day roll by that you have the chance to race twice at two complete different venues. Saturday offered that chance with the happenings of both Street Cred and The Howling. A street race to start the day, and then a super secret offroad race in the evening. Both were brutal, both were fun, and both had more shenanigans than that scene with Farva.

Back to Street Cred. These guys put on a classic event, full of West Bottoms, peeps, and good ol' Tallgrass beer. I chose to take the Stumpy FSR out to play, figuring that trying to keep up with the cross boys and roadies would lead to a good time. I wasn't let down. I jumped towards to front, and ended up in a battle for 1st with BK. He was on a sweet Spooky road ride, with some seemingly invincible tires. I was pretty impressed on how well he rode the rough stuff without flatting. I was able to hold his wheel fine in the more tech spots, but on the long road run into the finish it was full bore to keep up. Somewhere around the halfway mark I made my way past on the fly over and looked back a few minutes later to see no one. Managed to win some sweet Major Tom rims, get a sweet buzz to kickstart the days festivities, and got to race and hang with a cool group of guys that I don't always get to see. Thanks to Chasm and Chris for the sweet time, along with everyone else that helped make that possible!

I unfortunatly didn't get to stick around long, because the Pirate, Manimal, and I had to jet off to set up for the Howling. I was happy to help by donating my energy carrying the buckets so the boys could flag and stake the course. I just didn't know the course was 3 miles long. Man that was a long hike in biking shoes, not to mention the run back to the car in order to get out of the parking lot before it closed.

We headed back to the meeting spot bar, and I stuffed my face with a big pulled pork sandwhich, fries, and more beer before getting ready for the second round of suffering. There was a decent crew that showed up, and before long we were headed out to the course ready for 8 miles of pure hellish fun. I was unfortunetly still rocking my shorts from earlier in the day thanks to my boy Tdonn forgetting my stuff at his house. Just a little mis-communication...

The race was fun... Well not really. I mean it was a blast, but I felt like shit, and it was a course that didn't give a shit about how you felt, it was going to make you hurt. I managed to get blown off the line and lost a minute at the start due to me having frozen hands and a 20mm thru axle. Apparently the Pirate saw it fit to make us start without our front wheels. I almost killed myself trying to catch up to the leaders, and when I did I managed to do as little as possible to stay close. Tdonn was 10-20 seconds ahead most of the race, I just didn't have the motivation or legs to do much more. I figured I could easily outdrink and eat him, but he was apparently thirsty and very hungry and managed to even outdo me in that department. So he took the overall, and I took 2nd overall, 1st geared. The crew we had show up were a blast. The drinks afterwards were fun, although I had wet socks and no shoes, again thanks to Travis. He made up for it though by letting me eat some of one his 3 entrees he ordered. That man can eat almost like the Manimal, who by the way dominated both races with more Peeps and Doughnuts eaten than almost all others combined. I won some sweet PBR swag, along with one of those nice TaddiHogg cycling hats. Some sweet hats made locally by a couple of KC dudes, one of which had me cracking up at the after party. Luckily they were able to close the garage door on us to keep us seperated from the rest of the place. We truely tore it down Pirate style. Many thanks go out to the Pirate and all of his awesome volunteers that help make these crazy night gatherings happen.

Pics of both events can be found on the websites... I'm too tired to fuss with it.

So that was it... Two races, two different styles, two hellava good times. I'm looking forward to the last race of the Pirate cXc race series, and hopefully I can catch another Street Cred race soon. Can't this weekend, but hopefully the next one.

Snow snow snow... I think it's time to spend some time at the Lake riding trails that are always good. Looks like our dirt will be far from hero for quite some time.

G

Game Changer 2012

Well, were to start...

Quick recap of the last few weeks.

I quit my job.

I got sick.

I'm still sick.

Training has been very meh.

I'm in the search for a new job.

I'm still left with a lingering ear infection. It's been a week and a half, which started a week after the first round of sickness. So that's two and half weeks of being sick now. I was supposed to be on my way to Colorado today, but choose not to risk it being I still have quite a bit of pressure built up in my middle ear. Something about pushing hard in the mountains with that kind of pressure didn't sound appealing.

Back on the job front, I quit my job in order to persue working in the bike industry. I figured it was time for a change, and what better work feild to work in then bikes. Radio sales was pretty good to me, and I learned a ton, but it was time to switch it up and work my way to KC. I'm pretty sure it's going to work out great, but as of now I still remain unemployed. It was my plan for February, and then in March hopefully find myself in a shop learning from the ground up. Just haven't found the shop part yet...

I still ride my bike, and I've also been to the Speed Academy something like 10-12 or so times now. We've been riding over from a buddies house, doing the hour workout and then riding home. I've been on the Stumpy FSR and he's been on my cross bike. It's a good workout. 6 miles of sprinting over, and hour there, and 6 miles of sprinting back.

I did the first trainer ride of the year the other night at Travis' place. It was fun, but painful. Just like trainer workouts usually are. The workout was 7 - 20 seconds sprints full on with 10 seconds rest in between. Four sets with 3 minutes rest in between. Then finsihed it with a 10 minute 170 heart rate set. I made it through, but the antibiotics and sickness has me running pretty low on the energy scale. I just don't have much to give right now. It's getting better though, and I'm looking forward to getting better. Anyone knows being sick sucks, especially when you're trying to enjoy riding.

So that's about it for now... Nothing exciting, unless you're in my shoes. It's a unique time in life for me, and I'm looking forward to where it leads.

Don't forget the Howling this Saturday night, preceded by Street Cred. I'd like to do both. I've never done any of the Street Creds, but they sound like fun, and the Howling, well, it'll be a damn blast no doubt.

I need some sleep... The dirt will be frozen in the early morning. I'd like to great it with some fat tire goodness.

G

Columbia Speed Academy

Wanna try your might at a 60 minute circuit workout that will likely leave you heaving in the bathroom? Visit these guys...

Columbia Speed Academy

I did one of their circuits on Sunday, and followed it up with a hard 45 miler on the Katy. I'm just now feeling like I'm not sore.

From the self-propelled treadmill, to the ropes, polymetric drills, and five spot jump mats, these guys have a unique circuit that works every muscle in the body. Jason laughed when I told him I've never puked from a workout, and I encouraged him to make me. He did his best, and although I was exhuasted, I still held it in.

But I'll be going back... Again, and again, and again.

Get strong, try new things, break it down and build it up.

G

Optical Illusion

I took this pic a few days ago. The lake was as calm as I've ever seen for mid afternoon. The lake was even more vivid than the sky, which was amazing itself.

Camera phone shot inverted...

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3 Day Taintisizor

Oh my oh my... What a wreck I am today. I had basically 10 days off for the holidays, rode a ton, rested even more, but then ended the break with moving out of my apartment which came down to a 15 hour day of moving/cleaning yesterday. Today I feel a little tired.

I really can't complain at all about last weeks riding schedule. I kinda wished I did more core/upper body work, but alas I had a great week. Monday was a little ride around the farm, followed by leg killer lower body bodyweight workouts. I've been heavy on my one legged butt to the ground squats. They're killer.

Tuesday/Wednesday were back to back 45 miler gravel grinds.

Thursday was an off day, just a little core and upper body workout.

Friday began the three day MTB marathon. It was the best three days of MTB I can remember, only made better by being on the funnest bike to date, the Stumpy EVO FSR 29er.

Friday I hit up Four Winds first at Lake Ozark. A real mans trail... A trail that left me hiking my bike out for 2 hours in 110 degree heat back in July. I was ready for some redemption. I got it. The Stumpy did not dissapoint, and I railed a lap of all that Four Winds had to offer.

A short 20 minute drive later and I was parked at Carls Market, and on to the second trails system of the day, Bittersweet. It's soo soo sweet. A trail that you have to know pretty well to navigate, and a trail that even when known has a tendency to get you lost. I was happy to remember all of the intersections, subdivision divisions, road crossings, and more to be able to navigate the full trail. I finished just as the sun was setting, with a Carls Market sandwhich in hand along with the ever so wonderful Central Dairy chocolate milk.

The SKI jump! This thing is a blast. Tucked away on Bittersweet, you pretty much drop down from some guys back yard, and fly down the trail just like a ski jump. Maybe that's were it got it's name.

The entrance to Bittersweet just down the road from Carls. This is just off a normal busy road. You would never see it if you didn't know it was there.

Sitting in Carls Market. Specialized hit the Flo color on the head with this paint job. It almost glows in low light conditions. Very very bright compared to my other Floyellow frames.

Saturday I rode again solo, because apparently crossers are still crossing. I'm so glad that craps about done. I'm ready to ride dirt again with my semi-mountain biking friends. I say semi, because anyone who chooses a cross race over sweet awesome trail conditions, and 60 degree weather on New Years Eve isn't a 100% true mountain biker. Sorry...

Anyways, I hit up BURP for an hour and a half or so, and then headed over to Swope to finish the evening off for a couple more hours of riding.

Classic Swope.

I got porcelin god praying drunk Saturday night, and even though none of my friends wanted to ride again, I decided I was way to hungover not to ride on New Years day. I enjoy hungover rides. They leave you feeling much better than you are going into them. They actually end up usually being good rides for me too. I'm not sure why, but I usually feel pretty good. Sunday I felt great. Suprising after the last two days of taint and leg abuse, but a good feeling anyhow.

I hit up ISH for the first time. The Stumpy killed it... I hit every feature, and for never dirt jumping, I think I did a fine job of sending it. Spent another hour and half of riding, and called it a day as the sun set again, for the third day in a row leaving the trail.

Then I moved all day yesterday.

I think I'm not going to ride tonight. Lot's of unpacking. It'll be a good night to do some circuit workouts.

Then back to dirt tommorow....

G

Crazy

It's December 27th... I'm wearing shorts.  Crazy

G

The REAL Whales Tail

Finally! Swope was railed in its full glory for what was a perfect Christmas Eve morning ride. There was only one drop on Marcy's that I didn't hit. Everything else was butta...

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