the BATTLEFIELD
and the BOOT CAMP
June 25, 2009
June 20, 2009
Got Milk
The pavement was familiar due to the snowy day stomping grounds from back in the day, but it didn't take the edge off of the 44miler that we rolled into early on Thursday morning...day one of the Tour that Mike and I thought would be a nice prelude to Saturday's dirt bike rally. A third of the way into the first of two laps on the proposed 2016 Olympic course Pinnacle road and it's sharp little climb splintered the field to pieces while the continuing rollers took our lead group to 10, then five. Through the feed station the UW masher lifted the pace and went off the of front....a gap worth closing so a quick acceleration joined me to his wheel and a look under my shoulder confirmed this was our chance to go.
Lap two was just the two of us...working, talking, riding...hitting it hard to stay away from any chasers, but soft enough to enjoy the amazing landscape that makes Wisco so epic. Around and up again and as the road tipped to the sky, the days of pushing up to Skyline back in Portland paid off as nothing separated the SV from the tape...three for three on the road..time for a bump perhaps?
June 18, 2009
The Homeland
PDX departure was the hardest part, and now that the Midwestern sky welcomes me back, the racing schedule tightens and the fun begins...three paved and two dirt bike events on the agenda...the first being the proposed 2016 Olympic road event in Blue Mounds...the Ventoux of the Midwest? We'll see how it goes up...
June 12, 2009
Fuel Vs. The Volcano
Tuesday night spin down to Sellwood and back...maybe it was the headwind, or perhaps the rubbing brakepad, or maybe I was just sucking...anyways, felt like the owner of this 'was sweet' Merlin XLM must feel on the daily trips to the park...longhaulin' em down to the jungle gym! Beats collecting dust in the garage I suppose.
Wed morning rain made the 1st of the Tabor Series races less than inviting...a few Chemex pots of Fuel/Alterra fresh from Milwaukee and the clearing afternoon skies changed that...kissed the bub goodnight and pedaled over to see how the scene was shaping up...8 laps for the cat 4's and we were off.
What a venue for a Wednesday night bike race...epic. Lucky to live in Portland. The SV rolled smoothly...METAL seems to be feeling better than plastic these days.
With one to go and Kic on the sidelines, the mountain biker instinct and the anxiety of waiting allowed the twitch free for a test....how bad could one lap feel anyways? Nothing compared to a night at the Beech back in Wisco or what the real men were to feel as they climbed the Geant de Provence the next day....quick look back and no one was there..so head down and drill it solo lappin' to the tape..June 6, 2009
WISCO GREEN BUDS
Quick weekend blastoff to Wisco....got the machines dialed at GARAGE864 and the new DeSalvo Ti29SS was ready to roll.
WORS XC#2-Crystal Lake Classic up in Rhinelander...an 11 mile loop of the sweetest Wisco singletrack that the preride felt that the 36x18 would feel about right...virgin lineup in the Elite field meant that the chase was sure to be fast and furious (fun as shit riding with ya James)...when the dust settled...the FUEL brothery lineup rolled home in sync...seconds apart after the 2.5 hour epic. Way too much fun...like a cagefight at a birthday party...thank god that the Blatz were flowin'...thanks Polska bros.
June 2, 2009
Perspective
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