Borrowed Content & Inspiration

Today's inspiration comes from none other than the author of Frazz

Some people train so they can race; I race so I can train, so the all-important workout doesn't get shoved to the back burner so easily. Nothing inspires like knowing you're going to get your butt kicked in the next race if you don't train. The fact that I get my butt kicked anyway is completely beside the point.

-Jef Mallett, a former bike racer and current triathlete and cartoonist. His strip, "Frazz," appears in 150 newspapers across America.

This inspiration is all the more key right now as training time has gotten run over by work. That which makes the biking possible. At least the work stuff ought to clear out a bit faster than the broken bones of the past two years!

The pic from this CX blogger

Slammed

Been working loads. Trying to get in a bit of riding.
Meanwhile check out what I have been seeing a lot of days on my way to work. Rarely get Sandhill cranes around here. Very cool.

Iron Cross Plus

This remind anyone of a climb in an early edition of Iron Cross?

See more vintage CX history here. Now that's cyclocross! No tame city park riding.

Specialized Shoes

Liked the road version so much that I picked up a pair of the carbon mtb shoes. They got a really nice test at the Lumberjack. SWEET. If you're looking for a roomy toe box (height) w/o excess width these are super.

Deer in the woods

So I've been a tad lame about blogging. Back into that mode of thinking about dumping this thing.

Tour: I've never watched or read so little about it in years. The last few stages though have drawn me back in a bit. The TT today was good.

Been riding in the woods a lot of late, fun. Been so dry the trails are hard pack and fast. Almost hit a deer out there yesterday.

CX season is sneaking up fast.

Lumberjack 100: Badger rolls with me to 9th

The race for me has to have been the single hardest ride I've ever done. And yet, it left me feeling really good. Having met my major goal (making the distance) and one of my minor goals at the race was a huge plus. Finishing 9th (and had I been paying attention it would have been 8th) was a super bonus. In some ways I think making it to the event and completing it this year meant more to me than it could have in prior years. It was a great day and a lot of the Badger and Founders Ale crew were there. Rick Plite : Mr. Kisscross once again organized a stellar race. He does a super job. He's already getting the CX series lined up. Dennis was my stellar pit crew. Kept me fed and cleaned up each lap. Was ready with the ice water for the head each time through too.

One Liners:
- Solo sub six road century on Tuesday and then the Lumberjack ultra Saturday
- Chris Eatough/Trek: rolls through finishing three laps not too long after I've finished two. He's an animal at 6:49 for the race. Danielle Musto/Slingshot at 8:47 for the women!
- I must have a sign on my butt that reads "draft me" based on how many guy's took a long draft
- 65% completion rate for all riders
- One blister from shifting so much for so long
- Triceps that I hope become strong in relation to the degree of ache during and after the race...BUMPY day and one slightly sticky fork.
- Sit bones that are a bit sore. The Badger 29er did a great job taking the sting out of it
- Longest I've ever spent on the bike in one day, let alone a mountain bike

The bike was just a bit dirtier than me when it was over.

One very cool experience. I think I'll have to do another one of these.

Syd (Badger) took 4th including almost a 30 minute time out after leading into the pits after her second lap. Lack of fluids got to her. She rallied back and hauled to make a great finish. Sydney has been tearing it up both on road and off. She should be flying by CX season.

Paula (Founders) railed on the SS. She's been doing a bunch of the 100s and it shows.