Friday, September 30, 2005

Got to get your Fix's on?

Fixie Mountain Bike...The Goat is finely getting on the fixie Kick.... I say if it ain't Fix'd it ain't Shit!

O-yea I almost forgot something

Check this out......He's got my Vote.

What a freak!

Gunnie Cross is a Com'n




















Well this Weekend I'll be heading over to Crested Butte for the weekend. It should be great fall colors. There's a twightlight race on Saturday night then another Sunday after noon. Lot of beer drinking and racing in Colorado. How could it be any nicer?

Gunni-Cross……Bikes, Beer and Girls

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

My New Sport

The Best of Both Worlds

Shooting a GUN and riding a BIKE! God I love this country! It could only be better if you could blow a way small mammal instead of paper targets and I could use a M16 in full auto instead of the 22cal. But, it’s almost prefect just needs to be tweaked a little.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Trip report

This WAS one long day hike from Dinkle to the summit. The trail begins by slowly climbing through open range and stands of Quakies while following an old four-wheel drive road. After about 2 miles of hiking you will find yourself at Thomas Lakes. At Thomas Lakes the trail winds up towards the base of the shoulder of the mountain. The trail becomes steep with switch-backs which up to the ridge you follow west to the summit.
Once on the ridge you will you are above tree line as you climb and traverse further to the southeast. After the last the ridge becomes narrow and exposure but not too bad. That this points you will walk mostly on rock above tree line. At about 11,800 feet there is one section of trail that is really more of a scramble than a hike and the terrain becomes steep and rocky. You may end up using your hands for assistance as some of the rock in this area is loose and footing can be tentative.For the last couple of hundred feet the trail continues its climb along the ridge overlooking Thomas Lakes. Near the top you kind-of go around back as you see the highest point. Psyche!!! This is the real false summit!!! And there are three false summits on the way up. It a real piss’r!! To think you are there and then have another summit to hit and then another. But you will see the real summit in time just keep going. Just before the top there’s a huge cairn which is a memorial to a woman climber that lost her life on the mountain a few years back.

Time to sleep again!

Sunday, September 25, 2005

It's getting closer and closer and closer


It's getting closer


and closer


and closer


and closer


and closer


and closer


and closer


and closer


Trip report later....sleep now :)

Friday, September 23, 2005

What???

Not much going on. Getting fat, work on my car, riding my Cross bike and drinking coffee.

I'm going to race track!













Thats it!
OUT

Monday, September 19, 2005

ItS LaTeR nOw!

More Cross then one man should have.

A barrel full of Cross.

See Cross is interchangeable with “FUN” in my Thesaurus and it should be on yours too. It is now become my favorite type of bike racing. Why? It is more laid back then any type other type of racing, but still competitive. It’s tough, more then road or MTB. One hour of Max Heart Rate! It’s cheap, Unlike Road or MTB racing there’s a badge of pride in how cheap you’ve made your steed. The best are under a $100.00. I could go on and on.
This weekend was the first race. Around 150plus racers showed for great weather, Beer primes and one of the largest women’s fields I’ve seen at a cross race. (There’s nothing more sexy then a Cross racing Chic) O-yea there was some cash too. In my field there was about 50 all gunning for beer. So the pace was Hot right from the start. A group of 5 jumped out in front on the opening lap. My plan was not to get in the beginning Beer Rush and pick people off as then popped off the back of the lead group. But at the mid point I was only able to get one putting 4th with 3rd Yo-yoing in front of me. I was getting his wheel in the technical section and then he’d power away though the sandy flats. Then just when I thought I had him “BAM” I stacked it up. Landing in the weeds. Once back up and on the bike the field was blowing by. But I got it back together to finish with a clean set of wheels.

Here I am punching it though for a solid 15th……LOL!

Sandy on the other hand was “Show Me the Money” again. Trading punches with two Pro’s from Boulder though out her race moving from 4th to 2nd and back again. She really was putting the hurt on these girls. Letting them see a wheel at every opportunity. In the end their experience won out over the barriers on the last lap. But she was able to punch it through in 2nd in a stacked field. She’s becoming the talk of the Women’s field. Putting the hurt the pro’s……I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s not on a development team next years for cross or road. Her power development has been amazing sense Superweek.

Well I better go ride if I'm going to keep up!

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Blast'n the Downhill skinny

Yesterday I had an epic ride….I was in Vail on the Cross bike so I headed up Vail mountain. On the way up I ran into some DH punks. They were whining about me putting the hurt on them on my Cross Bike. Something about they would “kicking my Ass on the Downhill, if I could even make the downhill on that skinny little thing” That’s all I needed, so I bombed the 94 Downhill course with these knuckle heads. What a bunch of bolt heads. I only wished Karl Hungus would have been there……..I would have pounded him too…….

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Aaaa the fresh air

Last night I got sick of a head full of snot. So I took some “Sore No More” and put it on my chest. Not B/C my chest is sore but the way I looked at it the menthol in the greasy slop could loosen up my head. It was just what the doctor order. I can breathe through my nose for the first time in 2 weeks. Aaaaa life’s simple pleasures.
After a couple of Espresso I’m taking the Cross bike up and over Vail pass. I might hang at Copper Mountain for an hour or two. Then take the Two Elks Head trail up an over the back side of backside of Vail Mountain. It’s normally a MTB trail but I’m all Crossed up! There’s no trail I can’t Cross……

Monday, September 12, 2005

I hate being sick….

I’ve been trying to shake a summer cold now for 2-weeks and it not going well. I’m just hoping I’m all clear for the opening Cross Race this weekend in Breckenridge. It’s not a bad cold just a little tweak’r and a head full of snot. One benefit is I’ve perfected my farmer blow.
Yesterday was Sandy’s last tri-athlalon for the year. She totally drilled the women’s field on the bike with the fastest spilt by over a min. But even though she had a better swim she still lost time. Still finishing the top 5 and winning her group and some $500 dollars in cash and prizes. Nice!
I also heard from “The Champ” this weekend. He’s alive and well. Sounds like he’s got some major life changes coming up, all for the better I think. Doesn’t sound like he’s got much biking left in him this season. That's ok just so he doesn’t get fat and out of shape. I'd hate to have to go kick his ass.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

A Little of this and That......

A Little of this.....Old School "Snoop Dog" on the MP3, Hill climbing on the cross bike. Whats your Name?

A little of that....In keeping with my ultra smooth, hairless skin. I did the home wax job.

Although not as good as the "Swedish Babe" treatment up in Vail it will tide me over untill I have the full spa work over.

And That? Well not much else going on…..I’ve been watching a lot of Warren Miller films and getting pumped up for skiing. I know it still two months away but it’s very too early to drool over Ski Porn. Hell the Half Pipe at Copper is still there. Maybe I just load the boards on the back of my bike and go HUCK!

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Baron got Cross?

Last night I did my first real cross workout. How did it go MitchMan? I puked! That’s how it went. Too many days sick, too many days not running, too many days eating cookies, too many days watching the Playboy channel……..But hell it was still fun even if I rode home with chunks of lunch in my mouth. The bike is fun, and the running is ok, but the remount is killing me. I must be holding my breath or something because the heart rate hits the ceiling upon the leap of faith back on the bike. But wouldn’t you hold your breath too? I think so….it’s something I need to work on.

I wonder if the Baron got his Cross ride on order?

Well, well, well….the nights are getting colder, the days shorter that can only mean one thing. The really cold riding weather is a head. Yes, it’s still get up into the 80’s everyday, but I’m talking about the deep freeze. You know Dec, Jan and Feb. Last year I did have to deal with the deep freeze riding in the Front Range because 70’s were common place. But here in the Canyon it avg.s like 50deg.s……Now that’s cold!

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Down an Out……

This weekend was the end of the Road season and to be my last chance for a win, but it was not to be it seems everything was working against me. Was it the bike? No. Was it my fitness? No. What was it? Timing and a Cold. Yes a summer cold whacked me out some, But, that wasn't my biggest bummer. I wasn’t going to let a cold get in the way of racing even though Sat. I was blowing snot balls that looked like Stam’s “No-Tubes” my legs felt good and I was pre-reg’d. Made backing out out of the question. My biggest problem was not getting to the line on time. Yes, I missed my start time by 3 min. s. Thinking the gun was at 9:55am when it was really 9:50am. But not being one to give up easy I went off late giving chase. Knowing it was a long race (85 miles with 8700’ climbing) and the pace would be slow for the first half b/c it was a solid climb for first 25miles. The head went down and I punched it holding 95% of MHR until I tagged the lead group an hour later. Blown a snot ball about every 50 pedal stokes. The whole time chasing I was thinking once in the group I can recover, relax and suck wheel until the end. I underestimated how bad the cold would suck the life out of me. Once in the group the suffering just got worst. I couldn’t relax or recover and yo-yoing off the back just sucked. The reality of not being a force and a couple more hours of suffering didn’t seem worth it. So at the top of the second climb I packed it in and head back to the car. Thinking I would feel better for the Crit for the next day.
About half way back to the car I spied the women’s field coming up the opening climb with Sandy leading the charge. Which was good to see, apparently she pulled the opening 18miles and then was attacked by to girls who got away near the top of the first climb. She was able to bridge up to them at the base of the second climb. The three then stayed away to the finish and Sandy was able to pull out the win with a little brew-ha-ha at the end. One of the girls broke with a group of passing Master racer and drafted them to the finish. After a protest she was disqualified.
Sunday wasn’t much better for me so I bagged the racing and just ran support for Sandy and again she was able to pull out a nice finish the Women’s open class. She out sprinted most of the Cat 3s and even a couple of Pro for a 5th place in a field that include two past national champions. Not a bad way for her to finish the season. I think she missed her calling as the officials may force her to upgrade to a Cat 2 after Sunday beating received by the local hot shots…….Now if I could get only get going. But I’m glad the seasons over as I’m a little burned out.

Friday, September 02, 2005

What will they think of next???

My good friend from back in Wisco is on TV again. You may remember Tina from the reality show the Bachelor. Well now she’s on another shown “Battle of the network Reality Stars”. I'm not going to go off on a rant about how dumb these shows are and the low brain power of the people watching them. But she is a friend and it’s nice to see her capitalize on the stupidity of others. How is she capitalizing? Well they are paid vary well on these shows. More then I can make in a number of years. But check it out and have a laugh. She a cool chic…….

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Window into the future

New Orleans I really don't know what to think. Looting, Riots, Robbery, and Rape. Somehow I believe it's a window to the future. Social breakdown with more and more people and less stuff to go around. It's a great study in humanity.