Don't even read it

No good news from the race. Short summary - warning - it might be boring if you read the blog more often, because it's pretty much like the last couple of race reports:
--> ride 4 hours
--> then all of a sudden start to feel bad
--> puke out everything I had to eat/drink since the start of the race
--> wrap myself in blankets to control the cold shivers (at 80 F ambient)
--> take a one hour break/nap
--> go out for another lap
--> feels like someone drained all the engergy from my legs
--> I must also look bad, one medic at an aid-station yells at my "Are you OK?" when I ride by
--> it's not fun any more
--> pack up the bus and drive home

And to top it all off:
--> Just when I parked the Vanagon in front of the house a cooling line blew up.

I'm really mad, I prepped so well for the event, felt great and was really looking forward to kick some ass, and then my systems shuts down - again. I think I'm done racing for a while....

Packing and future thoughts

Getting all my shit together for the race - I don't have to bring too much of my own stuff, since everybody already gave me equipment. Am I nervous - oh yeah!

Talking with friends and teammates Robert/Greg/Chris randomly about the races following "hot august nights" - big discussion topic is SM100.

I've done that race twice before, and even finished 13th last year. I'm planning on going down there at the moment, but depending on how I feel 2 weeks after the big solo event I might just go to VA and not even race. Or I could go down there and already decide to DNF in the "rock star" category ("you need superb performances Saturday night around the kegs, Sunday on the bike, and Sunday night at the party!" - so if I only drink and not race at all it would just be another DNF of the season)?

We'll see, I'm not too good about making plans early...

No wonder

Everytime I ride with the Simonster (Mike Simonson) or Hermit-Man (Robert) I feel like i'm slow. No wonder, official confirmation today that those guys are - simply put: fast.

Simonster won the Ore-2-Shore, Robert was 2nd fastest Michigan rider.

The race was a 50 miler with almost 700 participants - but 24 h racing is what real men do!

What is "taper"?

T - 7 days for the big 24 h race in Canada. As of now, there are 39 stupid soloists and about 1.73 bizillion teams - looks like its gonna be a huge event!



Good to have friends that help out with equipment for the race, so far I borrowed:
--> EZ-up tent from Jim
--> Cot from Jim
--> Chairs from Jim
--> Outdoor cables from Jim
--> Lights from Jim
--> Batteries from Pete (Pete - I still have your batteries!)
--> Still looking for a small microwave...
--> And I also should ask Danielle for her fast legs and I should be all set!

I left my place this morning at 7 am and I ran into a bigger group of "elderly" roadies - why are those guys up that early? Do they sleep in all week and get up early on the weekends? I was so proud of myself for actuallly getting up in time (and earlier than all week), and then those folks are out there making it look like the most normal thing in the world to be ouside at 7:15 riding the bike. At least I passed them going as fast as I possible could. Whatever. I got in just over 5 hours of riding (I know, I should take it easy, but it's too nice to not ride a lot) and spent 3 hours at Pontiac Lake fixing the trail.

Pontiac Lake, aaah, so good - I don't know how many times I rode this trail and I still love it. I also finally recorded the elevation profile!

Birmingham B-Group

After 8 weeks of finding excuses for not being able to do the Birmingham roadbike ride I forced myself to go out there and suffer again. I haven't gone hard in a long time, so I was prepared for the worst - being dropped. But it never happened, and I even had time to enjoy the ride. Never really attacked, but tried to stay up front.

I love the sound of my MTB tires at speeds above 20 mph...

Am I famous?

Scott, a good friend who moved to Denver a couple of months ago, just called. He told me he was racing in Wyoming and ran into people that knew me... weird. He said one of them was from Iowa - looks like I have left that state with a good reputation. Also, TI3 discussion started again!

Can't think of a good title

Ride today with Jim and Shawn. Good day for a bikeride. Someone was always pushing the pace, but it never hurt bad, and the route had all the hills I could think of... 70 miles, 1500 feet (sorry, it's just flat around here).

Picture of the day would have been: this one dad who showed his hot young teenage girl how to ride a crotch rocket - but I couldn't pull my camera out fast enough. We all agreed that it looked pretty sweet.

I'm pretty surprised how good I felt one week after the 12 h race. I'll take it easy for the next 2 weeks to get ready for the 24 race...

Lots of water in Michigan, but no mountains.


All this water...


Shawn - who else?


No action on the Velodrome in Bloomer today, but one day I want to try it.

Racing in Alaska

Since I have my issues with the heat I should try racing in Alaska. Anybody ever heard of the "Soggy Bottom 100"?

Check out these pictures, looks like sweet terrain!

"running errands" ride

Since we are riding tomorrow for a couple of hours I kinda wanted to take it easy. Made the decision to just get some money from the bank and buy some groceries....

Must have gotten lost in my thoughts on the bike, all of a sudden I found myself in front of Comerica in Auburn Hills - 20 miles away. I had to push it on the way back to still make it to the grocery store before it closes at 9. Funny, but that grocery store is not even half a mile away from where I live...

The weekend should be great riding weather. Stop reading blogs, go ride!