IZZY RACING

GOODBYE!!!! FOR NOW.....

2008-09-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

Life is one roller coaster of a ride! This week has been a double. After having a good start to my cross season, it is now all over........ Yes, I said over! Thursday I found out that my position as a Pilot at HNI corp. has been downsized, and I am out of a job. It is always the flight dept. that goes first when the stock price starts to fall. I understand this, but it doesn't take the sting away when it happens.

Needless to say, looking for a job, and the thought of selling a house and moving has taken my legs and heart out of training! It is time to step back, regroup, and focus on taking care of my family. Cycling will always be there when this all gets run through the wash.

A quick thank you to all involved in the Iowa/Illinois cycling community. Harpers, Dice, Iowa City, DesMoines. You have all been a part of changing my lifestyle. From a 220lb fat man with zero fitness, to a 170 lb want a be racer that just loves the vibe. You all know who you are, and there is not enough space on this page for my thanks.

I don't know what is next, or where I'll be living next. But what I do know is that things happen for a reason, and although it looks grim right now, I believe in my heart it will work out. With the love and support of family and friends, it always does.

Good luck, and God bless to all in these economic tough times. Hug your loved ones "just because", and ride your bike, "just for the love of it".

I won't be updating until I have a plan moving forward. I'll be watching the results, and rooting you all on to great results. I pray that next year I'll be back trash talking with nothing to back it up once again............. So long for now, and God bless you all Ty

ONE RACE, AND I'M BACK ON THE FAVORITES LIST

2008-09-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

I wear the Harpers colors one time in a race, and i'm back on Bishop's favorite list! I can't tell you how much better I feel about this. This has been weighing on my mind for some time now. He is correct that I have swore off road racing for 2008. This is mainly because I have a deep rooted fear of being lapped over and over again in crits! Not too mention road rash. Maybe a comeback is in store for next summer. If Lance can do it? But enough about me not racing road. How about Chad racing cross? I'm hearing a lot of babble of "loss of fitness, and motivation". The Iowa races are on the horizon. Two yellow Harper jerseys in the same race, would be a rare sighting!!!! What do ya say? Ty

RESULTS CONFIRMED WHAT I ALREADY KNEW: I RACED LIKE A PANZY!

2008-09-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

After the race in Chicago this weekend, William and I decided to not wait around for the "official" results. My son and team photographer had us finishing around the high teens low 20's. Not good, but something to build on. So since there was no prize money to wait for, or podium girls to kiss, we headed for home. Not knowing the "official" results helped in some way to keep our ego's alive and well, even if it was only until today. The results were just posted on the Chicago cross cup site, and low 20's NOT high teens was the conclusion. I'm still chalking my performance up to the first race of the year jitters, and getting my skirt stuck in the chain ring! This can be easily fixed next weekend in Madison by hiking up my man boobs, and just racing my bike! Sorry for the attitude, I just hate poor results that come from me riding like chicken little...........Ty

TOO MUCH TRAINING FOR TOO LITTLE RESULT

2008-09-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Should have stayed here and enjoyed the day for as good as I raced.

Kept William close most of the race, so not all bad.

Finished till next weekend.

My first race of the year is in the books, and it couldn't have been much more mediocre. A very conservative start, put me behind a ton of riders off the git go. Lap one went by in a flash, and I finally started getting through some of the traffic on lap2. William passed me around 2 or 3 and he was the last one to go by till the last lap. Big power/speed course with one small run up. This is usually my course, but being behind from the start, left me racing for table scraps. I did get into a nice rhythm in the middle to late part of the race, then faded on last lap. Final report card is a C- to D+ due to lazy start, and giving up on the last lap. But everyone needs a first race of the year, and I'm jazzed up for Madison next week........Ty

SECOND GUESS TIME

2008-09-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

The off season will be over come this weekend with my first race of the year in Chicago. There is something comforting about the off season that I will miss for the next three months. I love the day dreams while training that you are better than you actually are. A good solo ride, where you don't have to follow any race accelerations, but in your head dream up "you da man"! While training if you have a bad day, you tell yourself that there is always tomorrow. September always seems so far away. Plenty of time to get into that fighting shape you promised yourself you'd be in after the last race of last season, REMEMBER?

TIME IS UP!

My beginning of the season report card, is probably in the all C's range. I'm my own worst critic, but the truth hurts sometimes also. My weight loss program has worked. 10 pounds lighter than I was at the end of last season, but still 8 to 10 heavier than I wanted to be this year ( I still love pizza n beer). My training up till now, has shown some glimpses of fitness. But there is truly only one test that counts, and that is race day. New bike, new shoes, new kit, just like the first day of school!
Goals for this year are a tad less defined than last. Last year the goals were 1. top tens 2. get a podium and 3.upgrade. All those things done, this year as a newly branded cat3 rider, I just want to compete. If I race hard every time and make a good showing, mission accomplished.
Good luck to all crossers out there. Get the hole shot every time, and never slip a pedal.....Ty

NO SEPTEMBER CROSS IN IOWA? WHAT A SHAME!

2008-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

What looked to be a great schedule in September to start out the season, will not happen. At least in Iowa! Two weekends of racing that were on the bike Iowa calendar all year, then "poof" gone! I can't complain that much. I rarely volunteer, and putting on a total race is way out of my league. But it is still sad. The entire state of Iowa and no cross to start the season. Where the Chicago series, and the Wisconsin series are adding races, Iowa is taking 2 steps back.
Instead, team Izzy starts the season out in downtown Chicago, followed by the next weekend in Madison, WI. Road trippin is cool, and hanging with friends and family is the main reason I race. But gas, food, lodging all take away from entry fees. Sure would like to have a healthy mix of racing with a local flavor to it. Last season was great, and I made it to almost all the Iowa series races. The vibe at the races was great, and I guess that it was wishful thinking that it would carry over to this year. No Sept. races in Iowa kills the buzz!
I want to end this downer post by saying that I still applaud the efforts of DICE and the Cross Mafia and all who help put on those races. Whatever races you guys pull together this year, I'll be there! I may not be the best volunteer, but I will support all you do by showing up and telling others to do the same! Ty

NO TURNING BACK NOW

2008-09-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Better up the training miles, and increase the intensity! It hit home today that cross season is HERE! Did the pre-register thing for the Planet Bike Cup UCI c2 races. CAT 3 both sat and Sunday. Taking the team camper for the overnight. So if you see the pirate flag flying, and maybe a flag of Flanders by then come and stop by to say hello! Weekend before this is Jackson park in Chicago, and I plan on blowing the cobwebs out there. That completes Sept. schedule, and October is in the works. Sorry to hear about the DICE races that were cancelled. Would sure have been nice to race local and save the gas money. Better luck next year. On a lighter note, did everyone see the 2/3 pre-reg at Jingle cross? 33 riders already in the mix and 2+ months still till the race. Re-run might race a couple of the junior races, but not sure what type of fitness he's in right now. School and football practice are taking up most of his time. I'm going to try and get him on the cross bike several times before Wisconsin to feel him out. He's young with power to burn, so we'll see.
It's pouring rain outside, time to go run some hill repeats......Ty

TAKEN OFF THE FAVORITES LIST

2008-08-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

While cruising the blog scene, my already fragile ego took a hit. It seems that my own teammate, one Chad Bishop, has dropped me from his favorites list on his blog site. Just as i'm in the final preparations for a fabulous cross season, my own "teammate" smacks me down!!! Granted I haven't raced all season, and Chad has had an amazing summer, But banishment??? I don't know of any other blogs that have had me on there favorites list "past or present". But my own teammate?
That's O.K. Chad. In the name of team harmony, I am going to keep you on my "favorites" list. Hope you have a great cross season! Your fans will still be able to access your site through mine to see how your doing.

Your humble teammate........Ty

BRUISES CROSS SEASON COMETH

2008-08-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Keeping it PG13 that's as high as the camera can travel without without the full monty!

Tis the season, and let the scar tissue and bruise count commence! For those of you wondering where that purple beauty is located, that is an inner thigh (tough camera angle). Gettin that re-mount leg calloused up for the season to come.

Been getting some good group cross rides in. Thanks to all the fasties recently for allowing me to tag along and try to raise my game, you know who you are! Hopefully my turtle disease is not contagious, and having a good laugh at my pitiful fitness level will only make you faster! I did find a way to keep up with the "Harpernator". Let him crash in front of you on a wet wooden bridge, and then run over him! I still feel like shit about that so a big sorry goes out to the G-man!

But you know what they say........ What is the best thing about crashing??? Watching somebody else do it!!!!!! Ty

Pre-Season Greg Pace Test - FAILED

2008-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes as a rider you go through the motions of what you think is getting you into race shape. Then there is that group ride or race that brings out the truth. Yes compared to your co-workers, you are in great shape. You are way above the national average, and your BMI is within the limits. But you know come the weekend, surrounded by a couple dozen like minded bike geeks, that just being in shape is not going to cut it.
After several weeks of what I thought was hard training, Greg Harper and me joined up before work today. We hit the trails, and quickly I was getting popped off his back wheel. Yes he's the "Harpernator" and this is to be expected, but it happened early and often. The biggest disappointment, was my lack of huevoes on the down hills. I got gaped any time the trail had a downward grade. I would fight back to catch his wheel, only to pop next down hill. Then it started on the up hills. Then the flats. Then it was just time to cool down, and hope I didn't get dropped doing that! Approx 4 weeks to the first cross races of the year. Got some more work to do, not just go through the motions! Ty

Redneck "CROSS" Training

2008-08-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

I hate fishing! Let's get that out in the open right away. But somehow my 7 yr old has become the next bass pro world champ wanta be. It's not that I totally hate it. I just didn't grow up doing a whole bunch of it. So with a lack of knowledge on the subject comes frustration. I barely know how to tie the hook to the line, let alone what bait to use for what type of fish you're after. Not that my son cares. As long as we are catching "any" type of fish he's cool with it. Being a can do dad, we have been fishing a ton this summer. Usually i'm the lackey! My job description is easy. Bait hooks, take fish off lines, untangle lines, get bobbers out of trees, everything but fish myself. This is all fine by me.

Yesterday we went to my wife's family farm pond. The rumor was that there was some large catfish hiding on the bottom. I had no worries about catching one, as we were using bobbers and wax worms in hopes of a good bluegill day. In the back of my head I was concerned about catching one of these slimy Jurassic monsters. How in the world was I going to get one off the hook if caught? No worries, the chances were nil. Then MY bobber takes off, and even not being a fisherman I realize that this is no bluegill. I real in the biggest fish of any kind that I have ever caught! Now what? With pliers and gloves (yes I know sissy boy) I got the hook out and the fish back in the pond. All said and done, another successful adventure for dad and son! Ty

TWIN SISTERS: ONE WENT ON A DIET

2008-08-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Last years race bike is this years pit/training bike. The 2008 Surly has been given several upgrades. The big on is Michelin Mud tires mounted on Bontrager race lite rims. This alone dropped a pound of weight. Last year I ran a 39 tooth front ring. This year I went with the 42 stainless surly front ring mainly because i'm tired of Huntsburger calling me a sissy boy! I'll either go faster, or shred both knees on the first big hill of the season. I didn't go cheap like last year and actually bought an outside chain catcher from Salsa. Only because Greg gave me such grief for "manufacturing" my outside guard last year from the big ring that came with the bike. Now that the bike is in the basement and dialed in, cross season can't come soon enough. Ty

I'VE NEVER BEEN A REBEL BIKER TYPE: UNTIL TODAY

2008-07-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

I got a late start on my day today. I've been cutting down trees and talking to insurance people for three days after the Monday storm, so I treated myself and slept in till 6:30. This got me to the park that I use for cross training around 7:10. In the back of my head, I knew this was pushing it. Yes it is a public park, No there are no signs that say "no bikes allowed". But we all know that this is a grey area. I'm a don't rock the boat kinda guy, and my cross training is a outa sight out of mind program.
Well today a custodian at the connecting school, decided that a bicycle on the city's green grass was a major felony, and called the police. As i'm revving up into my second interval of the day, there are 2 squad cars waiting for me by my truck. The custodian was an old grumpy ass! My goal was too keep my cool, smooth it out, not get a ticket "for what I don't know" and leave to ride another day. I tried to explain that I had been using this park for years and years for training, nobody had ever been the wiser. I stay to the outskirts of the park, and leave little or no track where anyone can see. Most days I have to move crack pipes and used syringes out of my path before starting. When I said this along with my thoughts that I was the only law abiding citizen using the park, the older officer got a tad angry. But before things got out of hand, I did what I always do and said "sorry, won't happen again, you'll never see me riding in the park again".
So this puts me in a major mess. All 3 parks I use are in the same jurisdiction of "officer friendly". Get caught again poaching city grass and he may lock me up. Cross season is fast approaching, and now i'm tasked to finding a new training grounds. I hate soap box standers, and Internet forums that bitch about this and that. But here is my rant and i'll leave it alone. We ride on the roads, and truckers try to push us into corn fields. Ride the bike path and soccer moms with double wide strollers will hip check you to the grass rather than give way a single inch. Now ride in your city park where my tax dollars go to maintain, and get a police escort to the exit. What I want to know after all of this is if I would have went crazy representing the crossers of the world, and went to jail, HOW MANY UPGRADE POINTS WOULD THAT BE GOOD FOR? Ty

GET YOUR TRAVEL PLANS IN ORDER

2008-07-17T09:36:00.001-07:00

The fall cross schedules are starting to hit the web sites. I for one cannot be any more excited! Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois all have tentative schedules on there respective web sites. Many are showing Sat-Sun weekend's of racing, all within 3 hours of home. The first mad-cross uci weekend looks to be a huge road trip in the making. Add that to Jingle cross Thanksgiving weekend, and Mid West crossers have nothing to complain about. Chicago area has some races that fall on several open weekends so I hope to support there scene also. A big PLEASE and THANK YOU in advance to the DICE racing team of the Quad Cities. If you guys run and support all the races you have on the Iowa schedule, it will be one amazing cross season!!!!!! For a guy who has raced "0" times this year, I am jonzin to race and see my friends. From what I have calculated on paper, barring injury or bankruptcy, there could be 20+ races on my resume by season end. The new race bike is almost out of the shop, and the practice bike is being used weekly. Can you feel it? Cross is almost here!!!!! Ty

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF "THE CYCLING CHEF"

2008-07-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

My new skillet and grate. What a shame they had to get dirty.

First, add the sausage.

Remove the sausage, add your potatoes, on this occasion it was tater tots.

Re-introduce the sausage.

Add one dozen eggs!

Cover with copious amounts of cheese.

I make mine into a breakfast burrito.

Salsa to taste!

Clean up sucks! Just a warning.

For the past two years my family has been camping with a group of wonderful people. There is a ritual on these trips that one of the mornings, our friends John and Robin cook what is called "MESS"! The basic formula is in step by step photos above, but the concept behind it's invention is to clear out all the leftovers of the weekend in one giant gut filling feed! My apologies to all my vegan readers. Eggs, meat, cheese are the ingredients that pull this feast together. This weekend we were camping solo, and I did not want to go into caloric withdrawal. So while at Cabellas last weekend, purchased a 14" cast iron skillet! This skillet has "MAN" written all over it!!!! I also had my good friend Larry C from work ,help fabricate a grate to put over the fire. With the tools necessary, I was ready to try my first 'solo' run of the mess. Tasty as it was, it's not the same without good friends. One thing that is a fact about this recipe. The MESS makes a huge MESS to clean up after. Also, a 2 to 3 hour ride must follow. Burning off the 1000+ calories you just ate is a good idea! Ty

FLOOD RELIEF

2008-06-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

After a weekend of basement flooding, I needed a release. I found it on the Surly at my "secret" training grounds. Just like the rest of the mid-west, they were a tad soggy, but that just seemed to add to the fun factor. Still in some terrible shape, but now I have tan lines! Ty

FLOODING....JUST ANOTHER FORM OF CROSS TRAINING

2008-06-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

Not fun, but could have been worse.

Thank God for the invention of the "wet vac"!

I pray that everyone that has been affected by the mid-west flooding is hanging in there and finally drying out. Living on the Mississippi and the Rock rivers all my life, I still am amazed at how quickly "water" can change lives! Our household felt the effects of how just a little water can put your day to day life on hold. Water started filling our basement on Friday night. Anything that was planned for the weekend, and for this weeks vacation were lost. Every waking moment for the last several days, were spent dealing with getting rid of water, or moving things away from the water. Early in the week, I had some great training rides. This all came to a halt. I haven't been on the bike since Thursday. 4 days of amazing sunshine, but all we've seen is a wet basement! Our flooding was a mild inconvenience and yet it took several days of our lives. I can only imagine the hardship of those in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City who may have lost everything. So everyone stay safe, and grab a sandbag or two. Building levee's is great cross training...... Ty

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

2008-06-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

115 miles, 8+hrs in saddle, memories for a lifetime

"Perfect timing" Tommy blew a tire just as we pulled up to the parking lot. Thanks to the bike gods.

Never underestimate the power of the ju-ju to get you over the big hills!

Still smiling after 2 hard days in the saddle.

After the first rain storm. 2 to go.

A little soggy, but a century is still a century.

My "dad quit screwing around" look!

Still smiling on Sunday morining , before the skies opened up.

Not moving very well on Sunday morning.

Friends from Muscatine, IA at dinner.

Explain why college is so cool again?

This cheeseburger in Galena was amazing. A few hills later, not so much!

First rest stop, still fresh.

The best place to start is by saying THANK YOU to all the riders who passed by with encouraging words. Things like "nice job young man", " you pulling your dad to Dubuque" or my favorite, and the one i'm most proud of "I wish my son would do this with me"! There are not enough words for me to describe how proud I am of Thomas on this Monday morning. At 10 yrs old he had no clue of the hardship of riding 115 miles in 2 days, over challenging terrain, in some of the worst weather that I have ever ridden a bicycle in. My hope in the beginning was to have an experience that we could share. Time has a way of getting past us all. With challenging schedules, it is easy to just go day to day, and the next thing you know your kid is 10 and it scares the hell out of you as to where the time went. I also didn't want the experience to be so grueling, that he would never want to ride a bike again! Needless to say, he was one tired kid last night, and so was I. The stress of watching over him, especially on the steep and wet downhills, removed a few more hairs from my receding hair line. His lines on the uphills were a little squirley also as he put all he had into moving forward. But everyone was courteous to this fact, (except one pro kit dude out of place). This guy could have taken a page out of Brian Moritz's "nice guy"book! Here is a guy having a great race season. He could have just blown by us an said "on your left". But he took the time to slow down, say hey, and even take a photo of me and Tommy. A+ on the cool guy scale! Team Izzy will be rooting for ya at the next race. To conclude the weekend, my wife told me late last night after talking to our son about his experience. He told her that he had a great time with dad, and can't wait till next year! Or something like that, at least that's what I heard............. Ty

DOWN TO MY LAST DOLLAR

2008-06-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Told ya a while back, that while camping I went for a single speed ride on the back roads around our camp site. I take the single speed because I never know how the roads or trails are. Gravel, paved, dirt, the SS tackles them all. As i've explained numerous times on this blog, my mechanical skills are sub-par at best. I do carry a spare tube, and a mini pump, but dread the thought of having to actually use them on the open road. Well it finally happened in a big way! I was 15 miles and 20 turns down a gravel road away from the campsite. I did have my cell phone, but had no way of explaining to my wife how to come get me. So with no other choices left, I was going to have to save myself, or walk. Pulled the rear wheel off to find that this was more than a flat it was a blow out..... I had a pinkie size hole in my tire, and with 15 miles of gravel between me and my camper, there was no way just changing the tube was going to last. The only other thing I had left in my seat bag, was a single dollar bill. Why not! I stuffed it in there, put the new tube in, and with not too much fuss (for me), was heading "gingerly" home. McGyver eat your heart out! Thanks to Arnold's bike shop in Thompson, IL for hooking me up with a new rear wheel and another spare tube. I was back in business later that afternoon. Believe me, a 7 and a 10 year old in a small pull behind camper all weekend.........A couple hour ride is Heaven! Ty

OUCH!!!

2008-06-02T10:49:00.001-07:00

My "pre-pop" off the back face!

Don't trip,Don't trip,Don't trip

June is here, no races under my belt, so what do I do? Yup get the cross bike out! I figured that if i'm not gunna race all summer, at least I can start getting ready for fall. So today I pulled the PVC practice barriers out of the garage rafters, aired up the tires to "35"psi and headed to the park. The plan was to tempo for about 1 1/2 hrs. A nice run up, barriers, and 15 yard run through the mulch jungle gym area, gave me 3 on and off the bike practices per 6 minute lap. Temps in the 80's, and I was drenched by the second lap. The wet grass felt like ice. The run up felt 2 miles long. The mulch felt 2 feet deep. The barriers felt waist high. My tempo ride became a survival ride for an hour. I was at my limit way too quickly for my liking, and the realization of the work ahead heavy on my shoulders. But there is time, and it felt great hopping on and off the bike again. Posted some pictures to remind myself why my legs will feel like lead tomorrow! 3 1/2 months till cross season................Ty

THE NEXT BILL GATES

2008-05-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

This is a warning to all parents of pre-teens/teens out there. Just because they act, talk, and look like they know what they're doing on a computer, don't fall for it for a second! It will only be a matter of time before they turn your high dollar investment into a low tech "paper weight". Granted, my skills are extremely limited in this area. So when my oldest son decides to really lock it up, I have to head to the local computer store experts to restore my sanity. Usually they do this before I go too far postal on my future Internet hacker! But this seems to be happening on a more regular basis. His few dollar a week allowance doesn't pay for the gas to the repair shop, and taking away computer rights only allows him more time to think up other ways to terrorise my wife and I. So my choices are military school, or buy myself a new computer and give him the old one. Since I have grown attached to the little computer murderer, (and his mother already said I can't send him), military school is out. So the search is on for a new computer. Then put the new toy as far away from him as possible. Then when he locks up again "and he will". Hire per mar to run security to enforce the restraining order I will have already taken out! On a biking note, I had a great memorial day "biking" weekend. No I did not race, but put on a hundred plus miles while camping with family and friends. I have some cool pictures to post once I get that capability back on my computer................Ty

TRAINING MILES ADDING UP WITH ZERO FOCUS

2008-05-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yes I am training. And as the weather warms up I am starting to feel my form coming around also. But as everyone else seems to have a plan as to where they will be racing next. In this area I am way behind. I gotta just get off the pot and drive somewhere the next available weekend and step to the line and get flogged. Memorial day weekend is out with family stuff. But it's gotta happen sometime! I just can't wait till September and cross season to roll around and expect to be Johnnie on the spot. While on the subject of being flogged. I showed up for a Thursday night "PACE LINE" ride. I had heard that the Tuesday night rides are an all out hammer fest, so opted for the more gentile sounding of the weekly rides. Sat in the back for most of the ride, then felt guilty towards the end and took some pulls until the lights started to go out. So like I said in the beginning we're getting there, I just don't know where the finish line (or starting line) is going to be. Also, I promise to get back into the photo groove. A blog without photos is just a waste of time! Ty

A BLOGGER WITH NOTHING TO SAY

2008-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Training, but not racing. Not even any good group rides to report. Went camping last week with the family and several other families. Spent a ton of time on the road. Long relaxed paced rides. What most experts call base building, except I've been building base since January! Also, I'm not too sure that the grilled camping food along with copious amounts of "Mr. Daniels" in my coke did anything but set my fitness back a tad. Congrats to all the local riders on there results in Iowa City. Looks like several of you are really flying this spring. I hope to have something more (credible) to report in May. Because a blog with nothing to say is a waste of time! But then isn't it always? Ty

I PICKED A BAD WEEK TO RAMP UP MY TRAINING MILES

2008-04-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

After seeing all the result pages on bike Iowa, I looked into the mirror and decided to get off the sidelines and kick the training up a notch. But I forgot to tell mother nature about my plans. So several days of rain, added with several long work days, adds up to more boredom hours on the rollers! I hate my basement! Maybe my next house won't have one, and i"ll have no place to ride rollers. I am still debating the actual fitness gains that may be had by riding them. I added in some early morning "hill repeats" at the local cemetery to break it up a bit. This was a good thing. Last cross season, the run ups were an Achilles heel. So the old adage of practice your week points was my plan. Running up a really big hill countless times only bolstered my conclusion that I'm way out of shape. Super glad that my desired race season doesn't start till September!!! Still, I gotta pick it up. Ty

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS

2008-04-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Been a while since my last post. Sorry. It's been a stressful week or so in my life. No need to get into any boring details, but riding the bike went way down the priority chain. Life can come at you fast. You are rollin along on smooth pavement with everything under control, and then POP! Next thing you know you're in your own version of a Dr. Phil show. In times like these you always find out who your true friends are. The people in that small circle in your life you can always count on. To all of you out there, and you know who you are, THANK YOU!!! After a ton of hashing things out, and making some of the toughest decisions of my life, things are moving back towards the normal side of life. And with that today I had time for a looooong ride. It was a tad chilly and as always I over dressed for it, but I just wanted to ride forever. It felt good. And as it always does in that therapeutic way, helped. After Kent park, the season is now in full swing. I am way behind on the training curve, and that's o.k. for now. The way the other guys on the team are flying this spring, it won't take long just holding onto the tail of training rides to get back into shape. Thank you again for all the prayers and words of encouragement sent my way this week. They were received and heart felt! Ty

GREAT DAY FOR A GROUP RIDE (but i got dropped)

2008-03-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

The first part of getting faster, is showing up! By this I mean, you have to show up to the bike races, or group rides. Even when you know that showing up is going to be rough on the ego. That is what I did today on the team Sunday ride. Even with the miles starting to add up in the training log, there have been very few major efforts yet this season. I had heard the gossip, that some of the guys on the team are already flying. Bishop even had a strong 2nd place showing at the first Conn Day race of the season (nice going). So just holding onto the tail today would have been reward enough. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN. I got dropped early and often! The few glimmers of good form were book end by gasps for any available air, and me flailing all over my bike, while watching the group pull away. It's a sinking feeling loosing the draft, and seeing the group leave you for more "time trial" practice. For those of you that have never felt the suck of going backwards, good for you! For the rest of you, just keep showing up. Eventually "they say" you get better. Just cuz it's not working for me, there still might be hope for you.........Ty

CAN YOU SPORT A SUNGLASSES MIRROR AND STILL BE COOL?

2008-03-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

My poll question of the week. If you wear a mirror on your person, or hang one off your bike, can you still be in the "cool" bike racer club? I have a friend who has a trucker sized mirror on his otherwise beautiful Felt road bike. It looks out of place, and ruins the lines of the bike. But he swears by it, and feels much safer while riding with it on. So if you feel more comfortable with it, and it helps you ride your bike more, isn't that a good thing? I also began thinking, will this rearward looking appendage really make a difference when the pickup truck shoulder brushers come calling? Yes you'll know there coming, and when to flinch, but that's about it. This summer one of my goals is to ride more with my oldest son. So in an effort to be more aware of traffic, I bought a mirror that attaches to my glasses. On a few of our 2 up rides, I have used it, and was quite impressed as to how it worked. So much so that I have even used it on several of my solo rides. I have to admit that the "style factor" goes way down, and there is no way at all to make it look good. I will never be able to wear it in large groups. As my fragile ego would never hold up to the torment. So if you see me all decked out euro style pretending to be the player that i'm not, the reminder to you will be hanging from my glasses. The good news for most of you is that i'll probably never see you behind me in said mirror. But if I do..............Then chances are, you have one on too!!!!!! Ty

A GILLIGAN 3 HOUR TOUR

2008-03-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

A three hour single speed tour today of the surrounding gravel roads. Started off smooth, but as the day warmed up into the 30's, the edges began to soften up. So by the end of the journey, MUD was the name of the game. The new fenders are now paying dividends big time! The other problem, is that county road crews have been out in full strength re-graveling all the area farm roads. While I'm sure the farmers and country dwellers are thankful of this, my cross bike with the 34mm tires and no suspension was all over the place (or maybe just my handling skills). With one gear and new "mushy" gravel, some of the hills were massive undertakings. But not one car passed me the whole time! That and the new wool socks I got, made for warm tootsies and some fun spring base miles. I am getting the itch for a good group ride. Anyone with the same thought, give me a ring. Extended forcast for the weekend is for 50's! Ty

RE-RUN GETS READY FOR THE TOUR

2008-03-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Re-run (Thomas) and I are heading for the tour this summer! Well TOMROV anyway. With 3 months to get ready, he is doing his part to be in ride shape. The weather outside has been for the dihard riders only. So his base miles are being put in on the trainer. I'm impressed with his moxy so far. As all riders know there is nothing that drains motivation more than slogging away on a trainer in the basement. Thanks to Greg at Harper's, a new shorter stem has made the bike fit as good as can be expected on a hand-me-down frame. I'm trying not to be Earl Woods and start touting him as the next "Tiger" of the sports world. Just a dad and his son spending 3 months training together, so they can enjoy a weekend of bike riding in June. He'll have pleanty of time to get ready for the real tour next year! Ty

NEW TRAINING GROUNDS

2008-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

Hiked some double track today, and it looks prime for good cross practice when conditions go dry. I've been in the hunt for a much longer training trail. The few local parks that I used last year are good in a pinch, but circle after circle can get a bit tedious. I'm trying to connect some trails that I use with gravel roads, or just one big off road circuit. The goal is an hour or even better lap. If I do find the "magic" course is anybody out there interested in a LONG DISTANCE cross race??? Like the Iron Cross in Pennsylvania, or the Three Peaks cross race in England. Maybe a 2 plus hour mass start cross race. Don't know, still looking, could be fun. I don't want it to be just a gravel race (we have plenty of those), or a single track mtb race, so that's the challenge. But I think I can find it given some effort. Let me know your thoughts. Ty

FIRST "OUTDOOR" RIDE OF THE YEAR

2008-03-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

So heavy my truck might have trouble towing her.

Not pretty, but very effective at keeping me dry.

Missed the great temps yesterday, and was not about to do the same today. A solid two months off the roads has "I think" finally broke my burn out funk from last season. I once again could not wait to turn peddles. With road conditions a pot hole mine field, and puddles and road grime in full swing, I opted for the lead sled of my stable. My single speed, a Greg Harper classic, is the Frankenstein of bicycles! The family tree of this bike splits from untold whereabouts. Countless hours of dumpster diving and rummaging through the "vast" Harper back room inventory have gone into her creation. Ugly, Heavy, one gear, but also indestructible and reliable, and I love riding her! Forgot what headwinds felt like, and what happens to thighs when the road points upward. So it was good to get the first ride out of the way. With daylight savings just around the corner, the group rides are not far behind. Ty

LET IT SNOW

2008-02-27T13:47:00.000-08:00

4 new inches of snow. What's a bike rider to do? Clip into the snow shoes and forget about race fitness on the bike for a while longer. That's what I did today, and the snow was great. Spent yesterday in Salt Lake City, UT looking at the mountains and all that snow. People kept coming into the airport loaded to the gills with ski totes. All of them heading to skiers heaven. So I returned today to the tourist destination of Andalusia, IL , and the grand trails of Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. Not quite the same, but I did have the trails all to myself. Still not sure how this winter cross training is going to transfer to the bike, but i'm having way more fun. Looks like there are some early season race testers in March so we'll see then. Tomorrow it is off to Atlanta for a few days. Taking the running shoes, maybe a head start on the tan lines to go along with my wind burn...... Ty

I'M NO ANSEL ADAMS SO GO OUT AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF

2008-02-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

Bridge crossing under the lake George spill way

Barrier training for next cross season

run up after run up

Whitetail deer power bar

"Moderate" in the summer, not with calf high snow to tromp through.

The trail snakes along the Andalusia Slough

My new training partner, Faster than even Wiford!!!!

These pictures do little justice to my newly found off season training grounds. It was easy for even a sinner like me to feel blessed on this very crisp morning! I could go all granola on you and talk about getting close to nature, but I won't. Just do yourself a favor and get off the trainers and take a field trip away from your training journals and watt meters. The weather man is calling for warmer temps this weekend, and for the first time since being a kid I will be just a touch sad to see the snow melt. The snowshoes and poles will be put away, and the base miles will soon begin. But this off season I can truly say I "cross trained" off the bike and loved every minute of it..... Ty

ESKIMO IN TRAINING

2008-02-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

As I was wasting an hour on my rollers a week or so ago, I decided that enough was enough. If it is going to stay cold and snow every other day, then I'm going to be an Eskimo in training! The gravel roads have lost some of there luster, so I have graduated to Loud Thunder Forest Preserve and there endless trail system. Out come the snowshoes and ski poles and "tada" I'm Grizzly Adams. No clue as to how this will make the pedals turn faster come the thaw, but I don't care. My season doesn't start till September anyway! 2 hours on the trails goes by in a snap. I return to my truck totally thrashed and grinning from ear to ear. Something that my rollers have yet to do for me. There are some awesome views along the river, and the eagles are out in force this year. I'll try and take the camera on my next romp. Until then. Ty

PEANUT GALLERY

2008-02-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

I have been wasting time on this blog for over a year now. I was under the assumption that I was doing this for my own amusement ( easy to do ). Anyone actually stopping to read this embarrassment to journalism, really does need to get out and ride there bike more! So imagine my surprise when on my last few posts, I started getting "comments". Somebody out there in cyberspace is interested in what I'm doing and has taken the time and shown great courtesy in responding. If I had an ego (lost it years ago in a crit somewhere) it might have grown a tad. But then I read these comments, and who they were from. It seems my very own teammates are the culprits of these slanderous statements. It looks as if it is there belief that my path of off season training is lacking in intensity. My no show at the Friday night roller sessions in some way will affect my performance come the July sprint fests at our Tuesday night world championships! They are questioning my team spirit due to my no show at any of the roller races. At this time, all I can do is assure them that my fitness is on track (a slow one). Also I do plan to show the team colors at some of the early season races. Even if these colors are YELLOW and BLACK just like almost every other Iowa team out there!!!! So even though I haven't driven 6 hours round trip to race 7 minutes on rollers, don't count me out yet! I just might surprise you on that first stop sign sprint...... Ty

HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING

2008-02-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

At the Summit 600 ft above sea level

Miles and miles of this out my back door

High altitude make your glasses too big!!!!!

Scared myself with all that self pitty, and failure talk last post. So went on a "high altitude" run/hike in the lower Rock Island county mountains. I only live 3 miles from Snow Star ski area, and the endless rolling gravel roads just out my back door are going to be my training grounds for this season. Don't have a reason as to why I don't take advantage of them more. I guess no traffic, great scenery, and challenging terrain is not my thing. But this year the Surly is gunna be the work horse, and the 600 ft Andalusia mountain range will be my domain. Hope my hematocrit stays below UCI standards!

TWO THINGS BAD ABOUT SUCCESS

2008-02-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

January now over, I look into the training log to critique my effort, and all is good. Real good to be exact! Ten pounds lost, all weekly training hours met, not one sick day, and motivation going forward is good. But with success comes questions. Can I do it again next month? Will I gain 9and 1/2 lbs back in February? I reached thoes goals rather easily, am I doing enough to progress? Do I need a new bike? (this is always a question even when I suck) ! Success breeds the desire to be even more successful. A few good race results this last fall and the desire to not be last anymore is all the stronger! This ties into enough never being enough. Last year I did this much and I improved. So if I do this much MORE i'll be so much more gooder! Last years bike was an improvement over the previous on, but if I get a lighter wheel set.....who knows. So today I dropped off my taxes to my accountant and asked if my return was going to be a composite size one? He said more like steel or aluminium. So then I went to the all you can eat chinese buffet. If the new bike is gunna be heavy, why not the rider?

ANOTHER REASON I HATE ROLLERS

2008-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

The end of January in sight, and my mediocre training plan is "on schedule". I have found it easier this year to have low standards and succeed rather than looking at my training log with disgust all the time. So as I start to map out my summer goals, I realize that I better put the running shoes away and get back on the bike. I got out the rollers for an easy re-introduction to my bike. As I start to spin I begin to hear a "tick tick tick tick" every time the front wheel goes around. I get off and spin the wheel by hand and NOTHING! Get back on the bike, start spinning, and "tick, tick, tick, tic," WTF!!!! I'm checking the usual suspects, computer magnet, brakes, loose spoke, NADA. This goes on for a while with plenty of F-bombs to do the trick. Then just as i'm ready to sell everything on e-bay and take up quilting, the phantom "tick" goes away and has not been heard from since. So all the rollers did on this day is show me that not only are my riding skill at a cat 4 level, but my mechanical skills suck as well. Is there AAA for bicycles? Cuz i need it!

BELOW ZERO - STIR CRAZY - OUTSIDE AT ANY COST

2008-01-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

The last several days have been brutal cold. After several days on the rollers, and even an attempt to mix things up with a aerobics tape down stairs, I had to get out! So yesterday in total artic garb, we were out the door for a gravel road hike. Day one was not so bad for an hour, so today with slightly warmer temps, we went for a solid 1:30. That little sting on the cheeks was a perfect pick me up. It's amazing what a little fresh air can do for attitude. Also last weekend, I began a total tear down and major cleaning of all bikes. This would not be so bad if I did it more often, but I don't, so it was. The road bike is showing the miles, but she is going to have to pull her weight for a couple more seasons. Tommy is going to ride my old cross bike this summer. So road tires are on, and the seat lowered ready for the first spring like day. Handing a bike down to Re-run, has given me room in my stable for a new cross bike next year!!!!! I even have the team manager o.k. on this one, so the search is on for cool rides. Don't worry all, what in my dreams is titanium and composite, will end up next race year being steel and heavy! But just with a newer shine. Take my advice and get off the trainer and get outside. It may not help my form come memorial day, but it sure is better than staring at basement walls! Ty

MY TEAMATE IS A NEW BLOGGER

2008-01-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Chad Bishop has a new blog site up, so check it out. This new blog will help all the IL/IA racers keep track as to how Chad is doing as a "CAT 3" racer!!!!!!!! Because i'm sure Santa had to have made that change on his brand new 2008 licence! Didn't he?

I DON'T BELIEVE IN RESOLUTIONS, BUT MAYBE I SHOULD

2008-01-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

One full bag of Doritos is not in here!

If you don't own a pair of these "good for you"

I have never made a new years resolution that I can remember. Sure I have had things that I've wanted to accomplish in the coming year, but never a bonified commitment to see something through. I think the main reason I shy away from them is my inevitable breakdown and failure in said task. Some past goodies in this area are as follows: Diet soda! (at least it's diet), I quit weekly and still drink it by the truck load! Learn to speak Spanish. Just got back from a trip to Mexico last week, the shoe shine man at the airport spoke better English than I could "spanglish"! And my numero uno every year, quit cussing like a sailor. Anyone who knows me can vouch that this f@#&ing hasn't ever come close to happening! Yet it is healthy to try and better ones self. So with that as my mantra, I set in place a "plan" not a resolution, to not be the fattest rider in the peleton this spring.

The first part of this has been the implementation of RUNNING into my training during the off season. Any of you riders out there that have not sucume to this illness good for you. I am positive that the pain I receive on my pitiful sub-turtle pace runs do my fitness little or no good. The only gains are that I love my bikes all the more. The second and maybe the most eye opening part of my plan has been the counting AND documentation of my daily calorie intake. As I did a small amount of research before starting, the experts say to loose weight you must only consume in the area of 1500 to 2000 calories PER DAY. The first several days I was shocked to realize that I had been inhaling 30,000 calories per day. Who knew that a complete large pizza in one sitting could hide that many calories? I am doing everything in my power to keep the count under 2000, but when you have eaten as rotten as I have for a lifetime, well....... Needless to say being hungry all the time sure hasn't helped my f@#&ing cussing, and my diet soda intake is on the rise (zero calories). Is being skinny worth all this? Will My health be better at the cost of enjoyment of life? You don't have to answer, by next month i'll be back to my pizza for breakfast eatn self. Ty

SEASON OVER.... LET THE OFF SEASON BEGIN

2007-12-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

After a couple days off to lick my wounds, my goals for next year are starting to manifest. I'm going to try to stay off the bike for the month of January. Not wanting to gain 50 lbs in a month, I have purchased a pair of running shoes. I can't tell you how painful it has been to walk out the door and try to JOG for any amount of time limit that can be considered constructive. Every uphill run this season proved that my skill in this area are week. Not quite as bad as my technical skills, but still in need of improvement. Time wise running is much easier. Plus with the travel of my job, the shoes fit better than the bike in my suitcase. I'm hoping the layoff the bike and my hatred of running will give me some motivation for a fresh start come spring. Everyone have a wonderful and safe Christmas season, and success in all your off season training goals. See you all in 08! Ty

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS "i obviously don't"

2007-12-15T17:50:00.000-08:00

The finish line that could not come fast enough for me!

The start of our journey

"The after"

Muddy warrior!

William doing his pre-race ritual of last minute tinkering with his bike set up!

Clean and fresh with "NO CLUE" what i'm about to step into!

MUDMUDMUDMUDMUD#@$^%&*

Later in the week this section got so muddy they took the barriers out!

Doesn't look too bad here.

I should of had a clue how epic this was going to be when the press helicopter arrived!

Cross nationals was a lackluster ending to what was an amazing season for me. The ankle deep mud, and super slick course was too tough a match for my sub par technical skills. There was no place on the course where I felt in control of my bike. I never found a section of course where I said to myself " GO FASTER" ! After falling down countless times, my mindset was to just finish without getting hurt, and I couldn't even do that. A slight concussion on the last fall put an exclamation point ending to my season.

I have mixed feelings about my performance at KC. I see all the magazine pictures of races in Europe or Seattle. The epic weather conditions. Snow, rain, mud. Riders fighting the elements more than the competition. In my own mind I wonder how I could handle the same conditions. After my race on Thursday, I can tell you that I won't be purchasing any plane tickets for the upper Northwest next cross season!

But I still love cross. More than any other style of racing out there. And I will be back next season with the same enthusiasm that I started this season with. My off season begins tomorrow with dreams of the 08 season. Just maybe with a fast-grass-dry-power-non technical nationals course to finish off with!!!! Ty

NATIONALS

2007-12-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

Still pulling MUD out of my ears! Crashed too many times to comment on. Ran more of the course than I rode. Last crash resulted in what the doctor said was a "slight concussion". I'll get more of the photos up and give a better report once my ego and swelled brain recover! Big thanks to William Huntsburger my traveling partner. Even when I lost his spare set of car keys, still gave me a ride home. Ty

MOTIVATION FOR NATIONALS " WHY"

2007-12-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to everyone. In a couple hours i'm meeting up with my designated driver William Huntsburger to start the trip to nationals. We are entered in the 30+ B race on Thursday at 11am. I am expecting cold+mud+strong competition+technical course+6hour drive both ways+extra money spent before X-mas+ mediocre training. This all equals my motivation for this race at an all time low. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't even expecting a top 50%, but man I need to suck it up!!!! I know once I get on line the adrenaline will kick in, but a little confidence going into tomorrow might not hurt. I won't have many photos of the race, but i'll try to take some of the ambiance surrounding the trip. Good luck to everyone going down, and drive safe! Ty

A YEARS WORTH OF TRAINING SO I CAN PEAK ON A TUESDAY TRAINING RIDE

2007-12-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

My training log says that I need a few more hard efforts before the drive down to Nationals. So today I went to my practice course at a local park and set out to burn both leg and lungs. Warming up felt o.k. but it was a cold mid 20's F. The course was like ice, and traction in the corners was sketchy. The warm up done, I started putting some hot laps down. I know my "HOT" laps to most of you readers are warm ups, but today the stars aligned and I felt like a bike racer! I can only imagine that this is how the guys that lap me on a weekly basis feel. I had energy and power to burn, and I kept asking for more. My time limit up, and I didn't want to quit, which is rare. My bike put away and driving home, I realized that next week the season that I trained so hard for will be over. I also realized that my best ride on the cross bike this year may have just happened with nobody but the squirrels to see it. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that my love of racing bikes far exceeds my skill and ability to do so. But as long as I continue to have brief glimpses of fitness like I had today, I guess i'll continue to line up at the start line....... Ty

BACK FROM THE LEDGE

2007-12-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

After several days of "post Jingle Cross self pity", I pulled myself back from the ledge of a season ending suicide leap! But a week of so-so training, and a hard effort at the park today, and i'm back psyched about my pending road trip to K.C. I'm not expecting miracles of increased fitness with one week to go, but I would like to not drive 6 hours, pay for food, hotels, gas, and feel like ASS on the start line. If any of the 2 or 3 readers of this site are at Nationals Thursday and Friday, look me up and i'm buying! For a cat 3 wantabe with sketchy technical skills, this is the mother of all road trips for me. What I lack in race fitness and skill, I will compensate for in alcohol consumption post race on Thursday! I'll try to take as many photos of all the local racers I see and post them all. See you there. Ty

THE "A" RACE OF MY SEASON COMES AND GOES WITH BIKE STILL ON THE TRUCK

2007-11-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

I tried so hard........ My heart said go race, and my body said not a friggin chance! After a full week off the bike, trying everything possible to get rid of a nasty cold, the cold finally won. Although feeling better, there was just no power in the engine room. I himhawd all morning trying to figure out if it was worth driving the hour over to Iowa City and see if I could manage what I knew would be a screaming field of 3/4's on a very challenging course. Not wanting to give up on the race that I have had on my calendar as my "peak" race, I loaded the truck up and went. At sign in, I found out that I had won a woman's Jersey (HOW FITTING), that's how my luck this week was rollin. I pulled the bike off the truck, and went about trying a few slow laps. At the top of the large climb, my HR was through the roof, and this was at turtle speed. I put the bike back on the truck, and took the first DNS of my biking life!!! Needless to say my morale is at an all time low. I have a couple weeks to recover both mentally and physically before nationals, but this was the weekend I wanted as my litmus test for the season. So now all I have is like all good Chicago Cubs fans know is "Next Season"! Ty

SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED

2007-11-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

It has been a broken record for 2007. Just when my fitness starts to find a groove, i'm knocked down with some sort of illness. After last weekends middle park where I felt great, the next day arrived with the usual soreness and the onset of a head cold. Today is Thanksgiving and the cold is now in my chest. With only tomorrow left to recover before Jingle Cross. I have spent zero days on the bike since Sunday hoping that my energy levels return before the official blows the whistle to start the 3/4 race. I will be eating huge amounts of food today and even more sitting around doing nothing. If that's not training then what is? Everyone have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving. I look forward to seeing everyone in Iowa City. Yes blowing my nose or not, i'll be there!!! Ty

THE MONDAY AFTER A RACE DAY

2007-11-19T13:08:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and my right hip was locked up! No amount of stretching seemed to work. After hobbling around the house for a while, my wife demanded that I see Dr. Mike. I'm not positive if her reasoning was her concern for my well being or if she just wanted me to stop whining Either way I went, and am glad I did. Any of you sore riders out there, I recommend Q.C. Wellness and Rehab in Moline, IL. Great people, and Dr. Mike doesn't look at you like your nuts when you explain why you feel this way. "You carry your bike up what"? Doc also confirms every time I go there that I have ZERO flexibility! This has to be addressed in the off season. I'm no fan of going to yoga classes, but me just doing hurdle stretches in my living room is not cutting it. By the way I asked my 9 yr old if he was sore after yesterdays races and he said "NO". I think he's just saying that to make me feel older than I am. Everyone have a great week and see you on the start line at Jingle Cross. Ty

HOLD THE PHONE I FINISHED ON THE LEAD LAP

2007-11-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

Proud (and tired) Dad

This is "very" early in the race!

After pulling me all day Dennis does finally leave me in the dust.

I'm hanging this on on my wall Adam!

My first race as a cat 3 is in the bag. It went way better than I expected. The biggest goal of the day was to try and not get lapped, which I did by the nobbies on my tire! Not that I wanted to go an extra lap, but it was more a pride thing. I didn't stick around to get the final results, but I know I was at the caboose end of the race and that's o.k. I had a bunch of people come up after the race and say nice ride! To hear those comments made the outcome of this race sweeter than any cat 4 race i've ever done. My son Tommy (re-run) also raced the juniors race and looked fantastic. Getting a head start racing at age 9 and driving a tank of a bike at that. A great father son day for sure. My good friends Lloyd and Dave showed up to cheer us on and the photos above are complements of Lloyd. Anyone who would show up in the rain on a busy Sunday and watch guys in tights on bikes jump over barriers and then take photos on top of it. Can't ask for better friends than that. Thanks guys! Ty

MOVE OVER C/X OPEN DIVISION (AS YOU LAP ME)

2007-11-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

After a great first part of the C/X season filled with top 10's, and the fun of actually being competitive for the first time in my cycling (hobby) career. I decided that I really didn't like the stress of being that close to the front of the race. So without consulting anyone, I filled out an upgrade request and to my amazement, the USCF have blessed me with a CAT 3 C/X license!!! I am totally stoked at the thought of this weekend getting thrashed by the local hammers. All is once again right with the universe. I am back to my rightful place in the peleton. At the back! All you open division racers this weekend move over, "as you lap me". Ty

BACK TO BASICS

2007-11-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

After a so so ride at Newton last weekend i'm taking this weekend of racing off to spend with the family. At the same time i'm getting some solid hours of training in. I'm going back to what got me into race shape at the beginning of the cross season, and that's just thrashing myself for 2 hours on my homemade cross courses. I would throw in some Greg pacing this weekend, but if you haven't heard the news, my human motor pacer Greg Harper has a broken collar bone! I think it is his 700th broken bone in his storied career. To get the details how he broke it, stop by the shop and ask. I would tell you, but I like the team discount he gives me at the store and would like to keep it that way!!!!!!! Anyway a good break from racing and some power training and I hope to be back motivated and in the top 10 at the next race. Ty

MEDIOCRE AT BEST

2007-10-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

William and I once again this weekend car pooled out for another cross weekend. This week it was to Newton, IA for the Iowa state c/x championships. A good 4's field showed up approx 36 on the line. I got my usual good start and stayed high in the top 10 for the first few laps. But as the race went on I found myself getting passed by at least one rider per lap and the engine room had little or no power to follow. I did my best to limit the damage and rode the last several laps as smooth as possible. Crossed the line in 11th place, a tad disappointed but still having a consistent season. I'm feeling a bit burnt out from 3 weekends in a row of racing, so next weekend is off. I'm going to try to get some quality recovery both physical and mental. Also try to pack in some good training to get the motivation up a tad higher than it is before the final push to Jingle cross then NATIONALS!
By the way William won the cat 4 State title. That's two wins in
a row good for 20 points! Can you say 3? Ty

MOTIVATION TO TRAIN TOUGH TO FIND AFTER DOUBLE RACE WEEKEND

2007-10-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

Even after some good results over the weekend, motivation to go out and get some strong training rides in, has been tough to find. Monday my legs were in shambles, but I did force myself to put in a recovery ride. Yesterdays work schedule forced a much needed day off the bike. Today (Wed) I was still lethargic in the morning so another light tempo ride was done. The only good news was that close to the end of the easy ride, the legs started to feel a little less heavy. I hope to get my only hard ride of the week in tomorrow. My question is this enough to further my fitness for the big races to come in November? This is the most racing i've ever done in one season, and the cross season is compact at that. The competition is growing stronger as the year races on. After 6 years of pushing pedals with no success, my desire to stay at the sharp end of the pack is strong. I just don't want to overcook it and sabotage what has so far been my greatest season ever! Ty

REDEMPTION IN WISCONSIN AND FIRST PAYDAY OF THE YEAR IN IOWA

2007-10-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

First payday of the year!

Coming up the run up at Psyclofest.

The start of the cat 4 race at Psyclofest. Can you spot the sandbaggers?

Izzy clearing the barriers

Cross racer in the making.

Saturday drove up to Whitewater,WI for the trash dash. Car pooled up with William, and on the way picked up his brother-in-law Stephen. After last weekend, my confidence was in a bad way and I was looking to bounce back. My plan was to blast off the start line go all out until I popped and then survive to the finish. That's how it played out, and it was good enough for 8th place. William rolled the single speed once again and finished 4th. Stephen also had a good redemption ride and bettered his performance from last week and came in 16th. I gotta say that after last week, a top 10 finish against a tough Wisconsin field was the shot in the arm I needed. Sorry no photos, batteries died.

Sunday was Psyclofest in Bettendorf, IA. The temps in the high 70's and the course was screaming fast! My strategy worked ok yesterday, so no changes needed. I think I got the concept of the cross start figured out, because I had another great one. led the field for almost the first full lap. The runup was a killer!!! I lost a ton of time and places here. I would catch up on several of the power sections only to get dropped again on the run up. My chain popped off with 2 to go, and I lost a place while getting it back on and that's where I finished 6th place and the last paid spot. William won the race once again on the s/s. He's got it working and and upgrade is coming soon. My teammate Chad also got a top 5 and is looking strong for the state race next week. Time to recover. Ty

Finally My Ego Goes "POP"

2007-10-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

tough to pass, tons of single file racing

Shows how narrow a bunch of the course was

William rollin on the singlespeed!!!

Today was Cam-Rock C/X in Rockdale,WI and the comp was solid. Approx 50 of us lined up for the cat4 race. I wish I had some kind of excuse, like I blew a tire or something, but nope I just got flogged. The course had some technical stuff, and once you got behind there was few and far between places that you could pass. Once again my cornering and bike handling skills of old showed up and I bounced around in traffic all race long. Ended up a sad 22nd picking up pieces of my ego all the way back to Illinois. Huntsberger made his first showing of the cross year and went single speed and finished 12th. We're both planning on a quick road trip next Sat to Whitewater, WI and then Bettendorf on Sun. Hoping for a rebound, and get back into that top 10 groove. By the way, I want to wish happy birthday to both my dad and my awesome wife. Dad, it was great to see you while you were home, and Kris me and the boys miss you a bunch!!! Have a great B-day and we'll see you again as soon as we can. Kris my wife who on her birthday went 8hours round trip to a bike race for me. If that is not love, I don't know what is. You are truly amazing!!! Ty

Photos of Newton C/X Weekend

2007-10-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Proud Dad!!!!

Looking for a handup

Re-run on the run up!

Le Mans style start up the run up.(me in second)

Izzy and team mascot Belle

Our team Director and love of my life!!!!!!

RACE-- RECOVER-- REPEAT

2007-10-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a much needed break from travel and racing. My body and motivation took a major slide after Newton. After several days off the bike and then a group ride with the Saturday morning regulars at Greg's house, i'm feeling a little more back to normal. Today a hard workout on the cross bike and the legs responded.
I don't think i'm going to spooky cross now. I saw the flyer and there 4's race is a 3/4 race. No good for trying to get points for upgrade. I'll wait to get thrashed by the likes of Thad, Dennis, Bruce, and all the other 3's at Jingle Cross. So instead we are going North to Madison,WI for Cam-rock park on Sat. We'll see if I can be like the Chicago Bears last week and put the hurt on some cheese heads........ Ty

Newton C/X 2 Races Same Result

2007-10-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

Took the camper and the family to Newton to race both Sat and Sunday's Cross mafia events. I gotta tell ya that sleeping in Sat morning relaxing all day (no yard work) and racing in the evening was great. The legs felt good and I was motivated to race. Had a great start, but just like last week, let several people pass and the settled into the 5/6 spot and that's where I stayed all race. Finished 6th and was happy with it. Tommy also raced the Jr.s and won!!!! He was the only one signed up, but you race who shows up, and he did. A real proud dad.
Day two, and my legs were the exact opposite of Sat. Understandable after yesterdays thrashing, but I had no expectations in this race. The goal was just to survive. And I barely did that. I hit the deck 4 times!!!! 3 times in the same corner just after the start line. I am so sorry to everyone that I either cut off or offended by my screaming foul language. After the 4th crash my seat came loose and I rode the last 2 laps in fear of it breaking off all together. It held together, but because of the distraction it was making, and being so frustrated at having to pick myself off the ground over and over again, I let 5th place ride by me then away from me and I again got 6th place. Not as happy as the day before, but content.
So 3 races and 3 top tens to start the season and i'm extremely motivated for October. After a couple days rest, we'll be back at it getting ready for spooky cross. Pictures to come. Ty

Sissy Boy

2007-09-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

The next time you and your wife decide to get new kitchen floor and the sales lady asks if you need the old floor removed? Get off your wallet and say YES. The money is well spent, and they take the mess away for you. The most important part is that you will not have to race the next weekend C/X races with a huge throbbing blister on your hand. Everyone have a great race this weekend in Newton. Ty

VILLAGE C/X RACE

2007-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

The first C/X racing of the year for the izzy team went great! Tommy went out and rode his first c/x race EVER at 9 yrs old and had a great time. I was worried about the weight of his bike over the barriers, but he handled it great. He didn't quit and rode to the finish, which was the main goal for race 1.

Then I lined up in the cat4 race with 19 other riders. After a week of hacking and blowing my nose, I wasn't sure what I would have in the tank. Got a good start, and stayed there for half of the first lap. shuffled around in the 5-6-7 spot all mid race, last lap popped a little and finished up 7th place. But all the weeks events considered, i'm happy with a top ten to start out the season.

Zuggy and his crew once again put on a great race, and had a wonderful day to show off a challenging course. They even sent some shwag to our house that my son had won and forgot to pick up!!!! Above and beyond, nice job guys.

Next week is Newton, and the family and I are taking the camper out and racing both days. Hope to see everyone there. Ty

TIME TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR

2007-09-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

No more excuses! Training time is over and it's time to race. Sunday is the first race of the year ready or not. I've had a cold all week, and it won't matter a lick when the whistle blows. Whatever power and endurance I have is what I get. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there. To all that are racing have a fast and safe weekend. If you see team izzy on the course ring that cow bell a tad louder because when your breathing as hard as we are it gets kinda tough to hear............ Ty

SICK

2007-09-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

With less than a week to the first race of the season, I come down with a nasty cold. It's tough to explain how disappointed I am right now. Months and months of training all to feel like sludge on the first race day. I'm trying every home remedy I can find to get any kind of strength in this feeble body before Sunday. I'm also trying to keep as mentally positive as I can, but as a glass half empty guy by nature this is impossible. I want to work out, but I also don't want to sabotage what is supposed to be my breakout year before the year even gets started. What I do know is that if you are in the cat4 race in the village of east Davenport, give me a ton of space. Not just because I can't hold a line, but for the flying snot that i'm sure i'll be hacking everywhere. Ty

KANSAS CITY HERE I COME

2007-09-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Stayed up till midnight last night, to sign up for the U.S. nationals of cyclocross in Kansas City in December. In the B-35to39 race i'll be lined up 28th my traveling partner from DICE Huntsberger will be right behind me (but not for long) in 34th. By the time I was done registering there was already 65 entries in our race. This morning I checked all the other races to see any other Illinois-Iowa based riders I recognized and saw very few. I am truly stoked and looking forward to the trip. Regardless of my racing form i'm, just looking forward to a great road trip. Hope to see a ton more locals sign up, i'll be there cheering for ya! Ty

Should You Feel Guilty Taking A Rest Week?

2007-09-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Most of you that know me, know that I have never won a race. You also know that even if I come close it's because the rest of the field had a real bad day. My training in the month of August both time and effort, have been more than I have put into any sports endeavor ever. Everything I read says you have to follow a strong cycle of training with some rest time to avoid "over training". My question is, if you never come close to the winning end of a race, can you ever claim that you are over trained? So with 20 or so days before the c/x season opener, I'm taking a short rest period before the last big push to be a CAT 4 somebody. So if there is no improvement in my race results, at least I'll sleep better knowing I'm not over trained! Ty

Dedication, "And The Pain That Comes With"

2007-08-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have an addiction for soda! Diet, regular, name brand, generic, take your pick. My drug of choice is Diet Mt. Dew. I can drink it with everything and at any time of the day. I know it's not the worst crutch to have, but as much as I drink a day it's not that healthy either. As my training for the cross season has increased, my desire to not be the FAT dude a lap down has also increased. Last weekend I did a 2 day "on the wagon" test. Before this test, my weight loss had hit a wall. After a weekend soda free, I was amazed at a 5 lb weight loss. I am happy to say that I have now been carbonation free for a full week! I'm not sure that I will truly be able to go cold turkey, but I haven't caved yet. The one thing I do know is that on Sept. 23rd, the day of the first cross race of the season, if I finish second to last place, you can find me in the parking lot slamming a six pack!!! Ty

The Jimmy Buffett Concert Experience

2007-07-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are new converts to the society known affectionately as "parrot heads"! Last weekend we attended our first Jimmy Buffett concert. This I assure you will not be our last. The concert alone would have been an o.k. evening. But the tailgating that took place was out of this world. Everything in moderation was not the slogan for our trip! It was more like "what happens in Alpine Valley stays in Alpine Valley"! The pictures above do not do the weekend justice. All I can say is that is something that must be experienced for yourself. 40,000+ screaming fans can't be wrong. Ty

Send Conn Some Rehab Motivation

2007-07-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

I just read on bike Iowa about Conn Day and his recent bike crash. If you get a chance, drop him a line and wish him well. Just like many of you, a Conn Day pie and beer race was my introduction to bike racing. I don't know him that well, but I do know without him and his band of volunteers, there would be a lot more weekends without races. Conn, get healthy as soon as you can, stay strong in your rehab, and we'll see you real soon. Ty

All My Eggs In The Cyclocross Basket

2007-07-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

Not much to write about lately. Since I made the decision to throw away the summer road season, my motivation to train all out for cross is at a all time high. The practice barriers are out several times a week, and the legs are starting to respond better to the repeated hard efforts I'm putting in. The increase in the volume of training has helped in getting my weight to an all time low. I'll be at the start line this fall a full 20 pounds lighter than last year! Another plus this coming fall season is that Re-run, my 9yr old wants to try his hand at some Jr races. So he'll be putting his BMX skills to the test in the mud and sand. Harper's is putting together a "mini"cross bike for him. I'll get pictures of it once it's done. If any local (Quad Cities) riders want to start some group cross practices let me know. I have a couple courses I use that work well. But some hard group efforts I really need to get a true picture. I need to see if my new found fitness is in my legs, or where it usually is, IN MY DREAMS! Ty

BMX Nationals

2007-07-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a tough year for the IZZY BMX racing team. Illness, rain outs, and several camping trips have cut our season short. But both Izzy and Re-run showed up for the Friday night preliminary race and made dad proud. Tommy(re-run) racing a combined 8/9 expert/novice class raced a full gate. Tommy only a novice held his own and just missed a huge second straight crash to finish 4th in heat one, then 5th in heat two. An O.K. night. Clay(izzy) racing his first national event was up against the 4th ranked 6yr old in the nation and he showed us why. Clay was rusty and out gunned from the start gate, but he raced hard and as always he had a smile on his face. We left the track with a new confidence, and are looking forward to a strong second half of the season! Ty

It's June, Do You Know Where Your Cross Bike Is?

2007-06-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

With cross season approx 2 months away, and my summer season a total wash, I have put all my effort and motivation towards being ready for fall. I was almost giddy yesterday while getting the cross bike dialed in and ready for it's first practice ride of the season. This morning I set out with my practice barriers to the park ready to thrash myself but good! My newly found training course has all the things I need to work on. It has a off camber climb and decent, loose gravel, and a short but steep run up. Add my barrier section, and the fact that it's only about a 3 minute loop, I get a ton of off and on the bike practice. An hour of this and I rode back to the house toast!

I can't say that my fall season will be any better than this summer. But at least recently my training has had better focus. With the looks of my re-mount technique, i'm lucky I started in June. I just might not look as pathetic come September!!!!! Ty

Training So Hard I'm Shredding Wheels

2007-06-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

While on a "Greg pacing" ride this morning, my rear hub decided to give way. I didn't even know it blew. On one of my very few pulls of the day, Greg saw my back wheel wobbling (more than usual)! I love these Rolf wheels, they are one of the few things that I didn't go low buck on. Even on my steel-heavy sled, they looked sleek and fast. I know they deserved a much faster rider! I'm sure the stress of going so slow was one of the major factors in their breaking down.

So I went to a Bontrager wheel set, and am looking forward to my morning ride tomorrow. Just like a kid at Christmas with a new toy. Out with the old and in with the new. I'm sure the hills will still hurt, and my place in the pack will not change. Ty

This is why I ride bicycles!!!

2007-05-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Call it my yoga, meditation, stress relief, or just that hour to unwind. After a day like this a bike ride does do the trick. Like all jobs, most days just tick by with routine. Then Mother Nature shows up on what should be a "milk run" to Austin, TX and you have anything but routine. I have to admit though, you can't beat the view!!!!!!! Ty

Friday Night Update (no photos)

2007-05-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Forgot the camera for the Friday night BMX races (sorry grandparents)! But things went a "little better for team IZZY than last week. Tommy was still getting great gate starts, only to get passed in straights 2 and 3. Several of the track regulars came up to me and said he needed more gear. So that's what were experimenting with this week. I hate to bog him down too much out of the gate, but a good start doesn't mean much if your 6Th place at the finish line! Izzy on the other hand actually found out that it is o.k. to pass people that are ahead of you! Several times he moved the bars to the left or right and made the pass. Now if he can learn to not let them get in front of him in the first place, we'll be set.
I'm still doing my morning "Greg pacing" thrashings. The fitness is coming around, and i'm starting to remember that falling off the back hurts worse than burying yourself to hold the wheel in front of you. Everyone racing Memorial Day Weekend, good luck and ride safe! Ty

Greg Pacing

2007-05-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

It usually has another name (motor pacing). But I don't have a moped or anyone to drive it for me. So I just get the fastest guy I know aka Greg Harper and let him pull me around several mornings per week. Doing this will either make me better, or i'll be a young candidate for knee replacement surgery!
After my last race performance something needed to be done, and done with urgency. With the increase in effort along with some small diet changes, my weight is down and I am feeling better about my fitness level. This will last till the next race, then it's back to more Greg pacing. I keep telling him that some day i'll take a pull, but that hasn't happened yet.
Ty

Can Mushrooms Make You Race Faster?

2007-05-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know if they help your endurance on the bike, but they sure are tasty fried in butter and chased with cold beer.

BMX Season Begins

2007-05-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you think racing a crit is a contact sport, head for the East Moline fairgrounds and the BMX track behind the grandstands. There is no such thing as holding your line in the corners. Cutting the other rider off, and making other racers take the lesser line is the norm. Crashes are frequent, but injuries on the dirt are minimal. In a road race, guys would be screaming and feelings hurt, but for these kids "rubbing is racing". I love watching Izzy(clay) and Re-run(tommy) race more than I actually like racing myself mainly because they are better than me. If someday they both do clip into a road or cross bike, there bike handling skills will be out of this world. But that's just a proud dad dreaming!!!!!!

If You Finish Last, Did You Really Race?

2007-05-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

I love (and hate) two bee races! Let me explain. First off Conn and his great group of volunteers are wonderful. If you can get to any of their races, you won't be sorry. And after my showing today I realize I need to get to more!
For me, all Conn's races follow the same pattern. 1. The race starts out at a comfortable pace, and I start thinking that my training must be paying off. 2. There are several accelerations, but I hold it together. I see all the Hammers around me, and I start dreaming of a cat 3 upgrade. 3. The race actually begins, and I see the string of riders through glazed eyes leave me behind. 4. I find several other riders just like me, and pace line it to the finish. and finally 5. Start wondering what I can do better next off season to stay with the pack just one more hill longer before being dropped.
This pattern stayed true to form on Sat. But you have to have a first race of the year sometime. I did have two teammates in the race, and they both did quite well. Bill Ford got 4Th overall, and Chad Bishop was a much better teammate than me (off the back). Not sure how Chad finished, but they are both riding strong this year.
See everyone next race!

Izzy Takes Two 3rd Places.

2007-04-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

This is camping "mmmmm pizza"

2007-04-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

While the first camping trip was a short one, we cut no corners on quality camp food. While many people think of Dutch ovens, hot dogs over a open fire, we went pizza joynt pizza!

But yes this is still a "bike blog" and around camping and family time I did get almost 6 hours in the training log. My first full week of road miles since pneumonia, and all seems well. The pizza and beer was just carb loading!

Maiden voyage of family truckster.

2007-04-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Izzy racing team took its' shake down run of the new camper this weekend. While others were racing Finchford, we were making s'mores. The weather was a tad chilly on Sat, perfect campfire weather. Plus the new rig has a heater!!!

New Cross Bike in April?

2007-04-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Why a new cross bike in April? Call it motivation to train harder for Sept! So next season no more bar end shifters for me. It's still steel and a tad heavy (just like it's rider). But the components are more gooder and it oozes "old school". Besides, if I rode a bike with composite anything on it, i'd feel mork guilty about my weekly poor race finishes. This ride allows me to keep my status at the back of the pack, just a tad shinier!

More Camper photos

2007-04-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

Too busy spending money to race.

2007-04-03T14:47:00.001-07:00

After several weeks off the bike to recover from pneumonia, i'm back to training at a good clip. I haven't had any hard group rides or races yet, and i'm getting a tad anxous. I'm not sure when the first race will be, but I want it to be soon.

In my off the bike time I've made several purchases. The big one is the new IZZY RACING TEAM tour bus! It doesn't have the same shwag as say the Discovery team bus but it will work for our low budget team. We have several BMX races on the calendar for Izzy and Re-run. Stay tuned for some "RV" stories in the near future!

PNEUMONIA!!!

2007-03-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Just as the "outside" base miles were starting to add up, my spring season has come to a stop. A lingering cold that wasn't that bad took a turn for the worse. A trip to the doctors office, a chest x-ray, and bingo I have pneumonia. So several days ago I had plans to race the first DICE race and then Kent Park, and now I have no idea how to move forward. I certainly don't want to force a return back to the bike and ruin the whole season. I have no clue what the recovery cycle is for pneumonia. Right now I can barely make it up my stairs without weezing up a lung. Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, and I hope to be back in gear by Memorial day.
Ty

Sorry!

2007-02-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

My lack of posts is in proportion to my lack of training in the month of January. February has been much better with the rollers and twice a week gym sessions. With the weather growing warmer, my motivation has started to kick in and the time in saddle are slowly adding up in the training log.
Tommy has grown a foot over the winter this means a new frame size will be needed for the comming BMX season. So if anyone has a line on an "expert" size frame drop me a line. I don't want to go new like last year and only get one season out of it.
The good news is that Izzy has barely grown an inch, so his "minni" frame may be good for the next several seasons. But don't judge the Izz man on size, he's been doin the martial arts thing all winter and is a new yellow belt at 5 yrs old. So by next year i'll still be a cat 4 and not able to send my first grader to his room because he can kick my ass!
March is almost here and Conn Day races only 2 weeks away. So much for an amazing off season. My fitness level once again equal to my liscence grade. See you at the back of the pack. Ty

Izzy Gets His Yellow Belt

2007-02-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

2007-02-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

Winter Cross Training

2007-02-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

More Photos of New Years ride

2007-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

New Years Day Ride

2007-01-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

Met at G-mans house at 9:30 to ride out to Steve Lees' place and meet everyone for the first ride of the new year. A late morning show is usually not a big deal. But the planets aligned and my wife and I actually found a babysitter, so we partied like it was 1999!!!!

Unloading the bike I was wondering if I would even make it to the start of the ride. A stiff northwest head wind all the way to Steve's did wonders to sober me up and I was ready to go.

A good mix of riders showed up. Riding all sorts of rides. Mt. bikes, road bikes, single speeds, even Greg on a fixie.

Spirits were good and the sun made a showing. There was talk of the future summer rides, milage goals, and fitness levels. The pace was easy, making it easy to move around the pack and talk to everyone.

After around 20 miles, we were back at the Lee house where there was a great spread of food and spirits. (I passed on the spirits)!

A final thanks to Steve and his family for putting things on and the great spread of food.

50+ Temps @&*K Lifting Weights

2006-12-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

Temps in the 40's and 50's have made my goal of getting a routine of lifting 2 days a week almost impossible! I've gotten several multi hour rides in and can't believe it's almost January. Christmas came and went in the usual blur for me. Hurry here and there, go to this event and that. The actual day arrives and then "bam" back to work. I did get some christmas cash from several family members, and it is now resting at the bike shop on account building up to that next project bike!!!!
I hope to get several more long easy rides in before the next drop in temperature. Then it's back to the basement where nobody can see how small the pounds are than i'm lifting.

A group ride is scheduled for new years day, i'll try to have pictures. Ty

Weight training makes the rollers fun!!!

2006-12-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

I've just begun the winter off season with the usual dreams of great gains in power and endurance before the spring road season. I have a new plan of attack, that will include weight training for the first time ever. Yesterday was the first time in years that I have picked up a weight. And today I had to fall out of bed, because sitting up (due to ab crunches) was not an option! This painful training session had one great result that I had not planned on. Lifting weights yesterday made riding the rollers today a pure joy......
I hope to get out on as many outside rides as weather and time permit. This is my usual off season. Just ride as much as possibe. But the race results the last two yrs have proven this un affective.
So extra effort is needed!! And a few pounds off the mid-section might help me hang onto the tail of the race a little longer. Thanks for reading. Ty

CX Season Over

2006-12-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Izzy chilln "notice the cow bell"

2006-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

Road trip to 2nd city

2006-12-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

Izzy racing went to Chicago to race in the Illinois state cx race at Montrose park. We planned on making it a weekend leaving on Friday and racing on Sunday. The mid-west was hit by the first big snow storm of the year on Thursday, so the normally 21/2 hr drive turned into 4 but we made it none the less.
We spent the whole day Sat. just doing the tourist thing downtown and soaking up the christmas spirit stuck in traffic on Michigan ave!
Sunday morning came and I woke up in the hotel room feeling sluggish and not very motivated to race. All the walking the day before left my legs feeling full of lead. I turned on the weather channel and saw the temps were -2F with the windchill. I crawled back into bed and that was the end of the 2006 cx season......
Not very manly but to be honest, i'm glad the season is over. I had no real big successes all year. To be honest it was a real below average season all around. So to get it over with is a blessing!
The planning for the off-season has already begun, and after a week of recovery totally off the bike, I will begin my 2007 push. Don't know yet what my goals are, but when you're at the bottom of the cat4 heap there is only one way to go. UP! Thanks for reading. Ty

Photos of the weekend are comming!

Another Great Weekend!

2006-11-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

2006-11-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

2006-11-28T18:40:00.000-08:00