Snow, Snow, Go Away!!

Well it has been a good start to the greatest month of the year, MARCH!  Ok the month is only the greatest because the coolest of the cool are born in March.  Other than it being a great birth month, this year has been stellar and then crappy, then stellar and crappy again.

First off, stellar! My birthday for some reason came early this year, when I opened up the front door to let Bailey do her business and found a box with some Team Noah goodies.  So happy, I stripped down with the front door still open to try on the great new kit that I get to ride in this year.  It is going to be a great year sporting this kit and all that it stands for!

After the stellar point is the crappy. There has been a crap load of snow here in Decorah for the month of March.  We got around 10 inches or more of snow on March 5th.  Also there have been many days of ice after the snow.  The latest round of crap fell on us and the rest of the state of Iowa last night dumping only about 2 inches of snow around here.  The bad part was that we got around 1-2 inches of nice rain yesterday and then got the snow, so lots of sloshing and and wet heavy snow to shovel off the driveway.  I am about ready to break a shovel over my leg if we get any more this year!!  Because of all of this snow, I don't know if I am going to ever get my Spring Driver's Ed. class done as we have now missed the last 2 mondays and also I don't know when I am going to be starting my 1st summer session as Howard-Winn is going to school until June 4th now.  Should be interesting this summer!!

Enough ranting about the snow.  Ok maybe not! The snow that we had before the 10 inches was absolutely amazing.  Since the PWC 3, I have been quite busy hitting the trainer when the trails were crappy or riding the heck out of the snowy goodness as much as I can.  Logged my first 3 hr. trail ride of the year on the White Steed in the snow and preceded it by a 2 hr. ride on the same white goodness.  


After ending February and starting March with a 7 day hard "training block" the 10 inches fell and oh was it a fun ride out on the trails that day.  3 miles in 1 hour made for a unhappy, happy me.  I did have fun coming down Randy's and creating the prototype Deep V Pugsley Rims in the process.  If Surly wants to contact me I may be albe to sell the patent on these!

Since the trails were crap I took the next three days out on the ski's on what was suppose to be great trail conditions.  I failed to account for the dumbass, college snowmobiler who lives a couple blocks over from me ruining the best ski conditions that we have seen all year by taking his snowmobile down the classic ski tracks, destroying them. If I meet this guy, he will be getting a swift kick to the marbles and then a ski pole stuck up his backside.  Don't know how dumb and arrogant you could be to ruin a whole user groups conditions because he felt he had the right to the ski trails. Snowmobilers can be quite the crappy group.

After the ski days it was back to the dreaded trainer to pound out some more intervals and steady states and then today out into the mushy snow to try my hand at the trails.  I don't know what it is about the trails that will put a smile on my face no matter how crappy the conditions are or how many times I am unable to clip into my pedals (Much swearing out on the trails because of this). The ride today was fairly slow due to 4-5 inches of water every once in a while hiding under the 2 inches of wet, heavy snow but it was quite fun to go outside rather than sitting on the gopher wheel spinning and getting nowhere.

Well that is about all for the update.  Three weeks till the actual season opener at Feel the Burn 6 hour. Later.

      

Pugsley World Championships

Finish Line Photo Op

Well this past weekend was the Third edition of the renowned Pugsley World Championships.  This race is well known for it’s hard race conditions and it’s extravagant racers.  This year was no exception.  A little history, the race has been held the last 3 years with courses consisting of snowmobile trails, snowy paved trails, open gravel and snow covered single-track. Also the race is strictly on fat bikes with those that want the coveted prize money having to be on these rumbling machines. This year proved, in my eyes to be the hardest from a racing standpoint due to course and the fact that we were on fat bikes which are inherently “FAT”.

We started the race with a neutral rollout from the local Elk’s club heading towards the starting line.  On the way to the line, our lead-out lead us up onto a levy with about 6 inches of fresh snow and ice.  Thinking the race was on, many took off like a bat out of hell trying to put a gap in.  Low and behold, we were still on our way to the line.  Nice little warm up for sure.

Once at the line at the end of a long gravel road, we were off and at them.  Being a local, I went to the front and controlled the pace by setting a slower and pretty easy 15 mph speed. I decided to set this speed knowing very well that the opening climb was where all separation was going to take place.  If you don’t know Decorah, any road out must head upwards of 300-400 feet, this opening climb being exactly of this kind.  As we headed up the climb, the race was on and the separation was immediate.  I opted to set my pressure pretty high around 15 psi for the race as the opening 27 miles of 30 were set to be on open gravel and no need for lower pressure.  

Up the opening climb and opening 3-5 miles I was at the lead of the race.  After being passed by former local crazy singlespeed fat biker, Scotty, up the initial climb out of his own necessity to keep moving, I decided to see what people had in them and attacked to create the front group. 

After about 5 miles, Franz, from Rochester established himself as the clear leader opening a 20 sec. gap on me and my fellow sufferers, Hollywood Henderson and teammate (forgot his name).  We spent the rest of the ride out to Bluffton and back to Decorah in this position, or so we thought. 

Pain Train picking up steam!!

After battling strong 10-15 mph. headwinds dang near the whole course and the countless steep gravel pitches all the way to Bluffton and back, we were convinced to be fighting for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.  Not so in the end!!  On the way into Decorah, I made a decision, even though suffering from cramps and exhaustion that a move need to be made.  Hollywood and myself but the gas on and opened up a gap coming down Quarry Hill into Decorah.  We knew the final 3 miles was on snowy trails with lots of ice underneath.  Well after almost blowing the turn into Van Pennen we entered the trail more or less together as I went down due to over pressure and Hollywood blowing the turn and making it back quickly. Little did I know we were in for more trail than first thought!

Checking on the competition

Heading up the climb into the park on icy snow, I decided to take off on foot and run up the hill thinking at the top it was straight down hill and pressure wouldn’t matter,thus taking the win.  Not how it was to be.  After sprinting up the hill 1/4 mile I was greeted with arrows into the curvy pines and about 2 miles of extended time on the trails.  Oh well I thought keeping pressure the same, decided to run, run, RUN!! I was able to keep the lead for about another 1/2 a mile before Hollywood came up on me, having dumped air, riding like a champ.  Thus the decisive move was made and the rest is history!  

After running the rest of the Pines, down the hill I went and into 2nd Place overall and more than happy with the place.  Mental error on my part but Hollywood was on a mission today and was an animal out there that was blood thirsty for the win.  Congrats to him!  Just another podium for TEAM NOAH though.  Keep it going. OUT!

PWC Podium w/ axes and cash!!

Bucketball for the PWC Grand Championship w/ yours truely referee

Life as normal......

Well it has been same old, same old around here.  Lots of trainer riding and very little outside riding as the weather has turned cold and windy and my time has started to become limited.

School has taken over once again as the year made the turn into the second half and we are full steam ahead til May.  End of the month will bring Driver's Ed. and the fun that comes with that. Hopefully the kids start to turn around along with the calendar and we have better days than last semester.  Won't hold my breath though!!

As far as the riding, I have been trying to do some tempo intervals, sweet spot, and spinning on the trainer downstairs to pass these winter months. I don't mind staying on it for around 1:30 but much more than that and I just get bored and anxious. I hope that the weather will start holding around 30 here soon and I can enjoy outside again. Just don't find the enjoyment of 0 degree riding right now.  Was able to hit gravels on the 5th and 18th for a good 50 and 33 in 40 degree weather.  Actually felt good to get out there but the wind again is a pain in the butt. Knees has been bothering me this past month from what I can only conceive is me pushing maybe a little long last year.  Need to give it time to clear up before I hit the intensity portion of the season. 

Well I am going to keep pushing towards the season opener. Planning on starting the season sort of with the Pugsley World Championships here in Decorah at the end of February and then we will see where the trail takes us. May be heading down to Missouri again end of March to hit up some 6 hour races to get the blood flowing before starting the meat of the season at Syllamo's 125k on May 18th.  This will be the first NUE of the year for me and hopes to be the start of a great NUE season.  

Well as far as any other updates, NOTHING NEW!! Just me, my couch, my bike and my life as normal!  Later.

Out with the old, In with the New!!

Well I do believe that an update is needed as the new year is upon us and many new adventures are here. I will start from the begininning of my 2013 season.  Dec. 17th started the 2013 season with the first ride back after taking almost 2 weeks completely off the bike not even looking at it when I passed it in the garage.  Couldn't look at it without getting disgusted!!  Once I was back on board the trusted steed I remembered why I loved it.  Dec. 17th happened also to be the last day in Decorah that you would see any bare dirt on the trails as the next day Decorah received 2 inches of snow and the rest is history as the white stuff is here to stay for a while.

The Unicorn in the flesh on Decorah Snowy Trails!

Training 2013
Since that last trail ride on the dirt it has been quite interesting.  The two days after the first snow were spent on the trainer remembering why I didn't like that thing in at all last year, the year before, or the year before that!!!!  Then something wonderful happened, Blizzard Warning!!  Decorah received about 8 inches of snow and the fun has been non stop since. It is a wonder what a few snowshoers and a few crazy fat bike riders can do to singletrack, off camber trails.  The trails have been fun as you can see and a riot as I have been able to ride them many times over the Christmas Break with the likes of the Unicorn, Wes Gregg, Shockey and other's that I am lapsing on names.Besides getting out for the many rides on the trails I have punished myself a few times on the trainer in the middle of all the fun to make sure that I don't forget how to suffer!!

Snowy Decorah Wonderland

Trails are more fun with 8+ inches of snow
and fat tires!

Chrismas 2013 

Family Phot

Also in the middle of all this fun on the bike, a holiday did poke it's head out for some fun.  This would be the first Christmas without my Mom, who is dearly missed everyday, but also a joyous first Christmas for my twin nieces.  A little bittersweet to say the least but a celebration none the less.  It was great throwing out some surprises this year with gifts (Grandma got a dryer and Erik a clothes basket holder) but oh so sad no underwear which was dearly needed on my end!! HA  The girls seemed to love the boxes as much as the presents which made us laugh!  Bailey even joined in the fun and pulled gifts from the stocking all by herself.

Bailey and her new Flea (Now missing an eye!)

These books taste so good Uncle Trevor!

First Sledding Adventure

Also included in the adventures of Christmas were the girls first sledding adventure.  Clara absolutely was all smiles the whole time, while Ella was a little indifferent to the whole adventure but had fun also.  Only one sledding fatality on the day and the girls did try and stay warm by bury themselves in the snow only once.  We tried to dry off Ella but she claimed to be getting dizzy. Oh well.

New Team
After Christmas it was time for a great opportunity to be unveiled!  Team Noah Foundation Racing!!!!  That is right, new year and new team!!  I look forward to joining forces with the folks at this great foundation to spread the word, help and charity and hopefully kick some butt with some great, top notch riders.  Look forward to joining my teammates Dwayne, Pete, Adam, Brett, Dan and a few others to be named as we take Team Noah to the masses.  The main focus of Team Noah Foundation will be at the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series where we hope to take a great group of singlespeeders to do some damage on the status quo!  Other than those races I will be again going to some great races in South Dakota and around the area as well in Wisconsin, Missouri, and Minnesota. Look for big things from Team Noah and check out the Team Noah Facebook page as well as the website and help the cause www.teamnoahfoundation.com

Brought 8 inches of the white stuff to St. Louis, Let's Ride!!

This great group of guys were able to plan a weekend adventure with the hopes of shredding some sweet Missouri dirt at Middle Fork (Ozark Trail).  The guys failed to realize that wherever I travel snowstorms follow and south of St. Louis was hit with it's first snow in more than a year when I arrived on Dec. 29th but the ride was still on.  We headed out and shredded 40 miles together, getting to know eachother and having fun on snow packed singletrack and gravel all the while freezing our extremeties off.  Riding with the guys for the first time showed just how well we are going to get along and look forward to it more and more as the season draws closer.

New Year's Day Ride

I just turned into an eagle when this photo was taken

Reindeer Games!

After the ride in St. Louis it was back to Decorah for me to celebrate New Year's Eve by falling asleep early as I always do in prepration for the true celebration on New Year's Day with the annual pilgramiage to the mother land of Randy's Bluffton Store.  This annual ride goes on no matter what with many beverages served along the way and reindeer games to pass the time and cold.  This year proved to be just like year's past with wind chills well below zero and the road trecherous at times. Fun times were had as I made my 5th anniversary climb up the great cliff outside of Bluffton where this year I magically turned into a Eagle and soared away from the guys (or so they say, they weren't drinking at all!!!)  This year was different for me as I was able to avoid the hangover on the second day of the year by really trying to drink lots of water and eating lots of grease throuhout the day!

Beer stop 5? or 6? or who knows!

Well that is all as I have returned to the swing of things with the second half of the school year upon me and my training starting to take shape for this year's season.  Look for the updates that will hopefully come more often and see what is happening if you want to be bored a little.  Thanks for reading!

2012- What a wild year!!

Year Stats

Miles Ridden: 4750 miles

Altitude Climbed: 308,750 feet

Time on the Bike: 350 Hours 20 minutes

Calories Burned: 285, 350 calories

Days on bike: 189 days

Well it is hard to summarize a year in just one post but that is what I am left with after not posting at all this year.  Crazy year of changes in life and riding.

The start of the year was not the best as I lost my mom after 16 years of battling “that stupid stuff”  as she called it, also called cancer.  Mom for me is now my inspiration and my motivation that nothing is to hard and I can always go harder and give more because she is a part of me and she proved that we are stronger than we want to believe.

Sandra Rockwell 1955-2012
 My Motivation and Strength!!

Before the year started also there was a blessing in the birth of my twin nieces.  Ella and Clara are two beautiful girls that will forever change my life as I get to watch them grow and spoil them rotten!!

Quite the handful but so much fun!!

This year I started by deciding to race parts of the NUE series as well as travel a little more to find races that were good races, in beautiful locations. Another big step this year was hiring a coach to manage my training.  I went with FasCat coaching and Carson there to take me to the next level and this proved to be the best decision that I made this year.

Sandwich 50 Early Season Mud

Time trials in Decorah were first up where I found out that I no longer have a quick engine but gave it my best.  An unlucky crash and strong racers didn’t allow for the three peat and ended off the podium at 4th. Next up was the Sandwich 50 in Minnesota.  Here I got my engine going and got a feel of where I was going to stack up this year in the longer races.  Good race a little muddy though. Ended up 3rd here.   Camp Ingawanis XC was round three for early season and this again showed that I could go the distance but was missing the top end to hold some of the XC guys in these races. One of the best finishes I have ever been a part of as I was able to go elbow to elbow with a guy fighting for the second place finish.  Tried but again 3rd was the number of the day. 

With the early season racing done it was time to get down and dirty with the meat of the season.  June this year was going to be the meat of the schedule as I took on three 100 mile races in 4 weeks.  The Kenda Mohican 100 was the first 100 miler of the year.  Ohio was absolutely beautiful with the campground on the side a large bluff area, also the start.  The race was great experience allowing me to see where I was going to be standing in the NUE series and what my chances were here. Being the new kid on the block I didn’t go out hard enough and lost sight of the leading single speeders and was relegated to mid pack singles.  Lots of single track sandwiched around gravels, fire roads and rails to trails in the middle to allow us to get to the other single track.  8th in the Single speeds and eyes opened to guys to hold to.

Lumberjack 100 Single Speed Podium

The next race in the series was two weeks away in Michigan at the Lumberjack 100.  With the year being very dry this race was interesting.  Knew who I wanted to stick with from the previous race and was looking for these guys throughout the race.  The start was stacked and fast as we entered the single track, after avoiding a pissed off motorist who block the entrance with his child molester van, after which we avoided each other the massive pileup that ensued because of the dust and high speeds.  I have never raced a hundred so fast on such rolling terrain as this. Motto of the day was “We are all going to die” as 5 single speeds cooked around the course averaging around 16 miles a hour on 100 miles of single track.  Fast!!!!  This race is where I was able to meet a great guy Dwayne and help to get in on what is to come this next year!! I was able to hang with the pro’s at this race and made the podium at 5th in the SingleSpeeds.

Lutsen 99er Axe and Podium

A week later it was off to Lutsen99er in Lutsen,MN.  Came into the race with certain expectations only to have them not really meet.  I am a mountain biker who likes single track and dirt.  This race ended up being a lot of double track with even more gravel and fire roads. I was able to luckily hook up with a roadie on a geared bike and he pulled me for a lot of the race as I spun out on the open roads.  Able to take the single speed win and 11th Overall at this race but it will unfortunately be the last visit to Lutsen.  Not my kind of race.

July was a month of training and hitting the roads around Decorah hard to put on the base for the later part of the season.  End of July was the first year of the Black HIlls 40.  This race was one of the top of the year.  The racing and riding in the Black Hills is amazing and worth a trip out to enjoy the splendor.  The Black Hills 40 was a tough as hell race with all single track for 40 miles and a hell of a lot of climbing.  Great folks at the race and a hard fought battle lead to me getting 2nd Overall, less than 30 seconds down off the win, mostly due to a blow corner early in the race that cost about 5-7 minutes and a long hike up a steep slope.

Beautiful View @ Pierre's Hole 100

Podium Pierre's Hole 100

Spent the week in Spearfish,SD enjoying the scenery and great riding of the Black HIlls.  After a week of “vacation” it was off to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming/Idaho. Pierre’s Hole 100 was the hardest race of the year.  Held at Grand Targhee Resort it was the hardest being at 9000 feet at the start and climbing over 17000 feet throughout the race, but also the most beautiful by a long shot of the year.  I found out at this race that altitude isn’t bad for me and I can climb even though I live in Iowa with a max altitude of around 1000 feet.  I was able to lead for around half the race being in the mix with the top dogs of the US in Single speed nation.  Eventually Gerry Pflug showed me who was boss and took over to leave me in second single speed but again gave me great knowledge to take into next year of racing.

Moving fast at Dakota 50

Dakota 50 Single Speed Podium

The last part of the mountain bike season was going to be another crazy run with 5 hard races in less than month and a half.  Started run with the RustyRide 100 in Cuyuna,MN.  Here I was able to take the knowledge from the early part of the year and run away with the overall win on the single speed.  Great to finally taste the top step of the podium in the overall for once.  After this race it was back to the Black Hills for some unfinished business.  Goal race of the year was Dakota 50 as I wanted the top step for single’s really badly.  This race tends to draw some unbelievable talent for such a underground race.  Underground no longer though.  700 toed the line and I was smack dab in the middle of a fight for the entire race.  Fighting I did having to deal with a 1-2 punch most of the day from two Idaho boys but ran away on the downhill into town as I had scouted this in my previous visit.  Was able to get the single speed win with an added bonus of breaking 4 hours in the 50 miler.  This is a great run for a hard ass race!! 

Nice morning at Mullets

Last four in the sprint to end the mountain season were close to home.  Went to a race I have been trying to get to since I first swung my leg over a bike down in Sugar Bottom.  Again hard fought battle for a 3rd place in the high speed field.  12 hours of Boone was great again this year as I tried to take all of the top steps at this race leading for the 12 hours I was on course.  Got the win in the 12 hour solo down here and will always try and get down to the race for some good wholesome fun with the Des Moines boys. Second to last on the season was the Mullet Classic Marathon division.  Here I knew I was up for a fight as I had been marked by Blackford all season and he was out for blood.  Tried to hang the whole race but realized that I was no match on this day with the previous days races making my legs feel like cement for the 4 hour marathon. 

Great Hardware from BT Epic

Lastly was the BT Epic in Missouri.  I went into this again with high expectations knowing many that were racing this and knew I could do well. I went with the top dogs at the start and got a feel of what it is like to play the games at the front end of the field.  Mixing it up with those guys trying to get the prem was fun to say the least.  The race turned out great but the only downside was that the trail was not visible for the whole day. True mountain biking with lots of fun trails thrown in for good measure. Took 1st single speed at the race and also broke the top ten with an 8th overall at the race.  Very good end to the season!

Overall mountain season was a success with many podiums and great friends made along the way. Should prove to be great base for next year and knowledge that I gained this year is even better.  Can’t wait to hit the dirt again next year!!

Pissed off at Oakley Night Cap

Something new for me this year was cyclocross season.  Went into these races with no expectations and they proved to be lots of fun and a great way to get to know some great guys from down south!  This season was for fun.  Was able to move through the ranks of this fast paced, different style of racing that I wasn’t use to. As far as a write up of this season I took a few top steps during the season, got my ass handed to me many a time by experienced folks and fought my way to the upper ends of the field on more than one occasion.  I look forward to putting a little more focus next year on this season as I feel I can compete with the guys in the races if I learn some more skills. 

Coming Down Mt. Krumpet @ Jingle Cross Rock 2012

Running it up at Morgan Cross

Well if you read all of this, you just wasted a lot of time out of your life!!  The future is good and look for updates on my new happenings in 2013 as I will be taking on the challenges and hopefully coming out on top!  Wouldn’t take back anything I did this year as I have been places and seen things that make life worth living. No regrets only looking forward to the future.  Season is officially over, time to get caught up on school work and life in general. Happy 2012 to everyone!!

Random Pics from the year!

Long Road climb @ Pierre's Hole 100

Spearfish Canyon Beauty!!

Crows Peak- Spearfish,SD

Sand Trap@ Morgan Cross

Finally finished with fellow single's @ Lumberjack

More beautiful views from Pierre's Hole

Toeing the Line at Rusty Ride 100

Fall riding in Decorah!

Trusty Sidekick for the Year!!

Trusty rides from the year!