Kopko

it's on

2010-09-08T08:59:00.002-04:00

2010-09-02T14:01:00.001-04:00

The Bike Song
Uploaded by rockohoward. - See the latest featured music videos.

New Tunes from mark Ronson and Business intl ft Spankrock

Bike Song just about sums up my life.

tuesday

2010-06-29T08:43:00.002-04:00

Here's some stuff I have been listening to.

I've also been spending a lot of time around water, coffee habit has come full circle. More time on the bike, more time to think, sometimes thinking is good, sometimes sheds light on things that are better off left alone.

I should probably write something funny here.

If you subscribe to Dirt Rag, Dan Monaco wrote an excellent article for the Access section on the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal. This is pretty cool, Montana lost a ton of access to singletrack lately and its people like this that can help lead the way in protecting wilderness but also letting others enjoy it responsibly. Thanks to the Summit Fat Tire Society for protecting some awesome trails. Speaking of awesome trails, the Firecracker 50 is this weekend. I am sure there will be a lot of people there. Mike McCormack was also mentioned in Monaco's article, he's been working to further bicycle racing and advocacy in Colorado for many year.

Happy 4th!

Crush the Commonwealth

2010-04-14T07:41:00.003-04:00

Is anyone going? I need to make travel plans, but this should be a painfully sweet ride. Crush the COmmonwealth

2010-02-20T09:49:00.001-05:00

Upcoming Art err Bike Show

2010-02-03T11:11:00.003-05:00

NAHBS is coming up soon. This year it is in Richmond, VA. It is bigger than ever this year. You should go.

turn up the volume

2010-02-02T12:36:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was an accidental winter triathlon of sorts. Watch Hot Dog while riding rollers. Run 10 miles. XC ski for an hour. What a great day. Shrimp stir fry and cake for dinner. Thanks Tasha and Shanty! stay tuned in for some broken ski pics forthcoming and don't forget to enjoy winter!

oh no not another one

2010-01-14T10:36:00.004-05:00

This time it is about teleskiers and not winter. I'll admit a have been known to make some parallel turns on teles.

20 10

2010-01-12T17:27:00.005-05:00

20 10 has been a great year so far, well except for the first day, but thats all over now. The snow here in W. PA makes for some good nordic skiing, an excuse for running, and my new to me kreitlers are oh so smooth.

Hit up Ski Denton yesterday with some friends. The triple was only open to the midstation which was kinda a bummer. I hear they are opening it to the top very soon. Lift tickets were only $2 in celebration of their 50th anniversary, so we couldn't really complain. Lift tickets are $2 for the whole season with some black out dates, so check it out if you can take mondays off. I was about to ski some atomic beta freezones with voile hardwires or something, but woke up wanting to ride the sugar daddies , so after a 6 am screwing and gluing session with my new christmas gift and some o3's, they were ready to go. There was one problem though, I had pulled the bindings off these skis because they have a pretty nasty hangnail edge going on which kinda continued to nag me.

Looking forward to more riding this year and possibly a location change. Stay tuned

More from Steevo

2009-11-20T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hipsters discussing cyclocross by Steevo

2009-11-16T14:42:00.002-05:00

This movie had me laughing hysterically, hopefully you will too.

Review: Noxzema

2009-11-13T11:14:00.007-05:00

When it comes to chamois cream, I guess I am old school. I prefer noxzema, of course there are all sorts of creams, embrocations, and stuff you can rub on your body. I found noxzema does the trick for long days in the saddle. You can buy it anywhere, its cheap, and works. There is now a variety of containers and types for most anyone, too.

2009-10-05T12:16:00.002-04:00

I suppose since I have a whole 6 followers and one reader about coffee from Japan, I should start this thing back up again. Look for some ride pictures, reviews and exploits from the last 6 months.

Does (or did) anybody read this thing?

2009-08-17T20:22:00.002-04:00

I haven't been much of a blogger lately, but some of my blogging trouble always come when I wonder if anybody ever visits my tiny corner of the interweb or if I write these things for my own satisfaction thinking and hoping that someone might read it. Who knows, i might have ruined it this time by not posting for about 6 months. Is it dead?

Product Review

2009-02-21T12:22:00.003-05:00

So this doesn't really have anything to do with riding bikes. After some reading and research here, I picked up a older german made coffee mill (grinder) for about $10 around christmas time. I decided to go with an Armin Trosser rather than many of the more stylish Dienes or Zassenhaus grinders. The burr grinder works great and can grind beans with stepless adjustment all the way from turkish style extra fine powder all the way up to a super coarse french press grind (what I have been using lately) it easily grinds coffee fine enough to choke any espresso machine causing the OPV (over pressure valve) to kick in. Anyhow german ones are the best and those with forged and machined burrs are the ones to go with rather than those with cast burrs. You can search ebay or hit up your local thrift/antique store for these beauties. A word of warning though, supposedly lots of these are pretty beat and of not manufactured with such tight tolerances and may not produce the grind you are looking for so try first. Also to clean the burrs grind white rice through them.

Also don't forget that these are hand powered and great for camping or anywhere else you may not have power or be able to lug a grinder. If you are impatient or don't want to feel like you are back in elementary school sharpening pencils, look elsewhere. But I dare you to find a modern electronic grinder for less than $350 that produces a grind of the same quality.

Running

2009-02-19T17:55:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I went running. After riding a bike, running isn't too much fun. It seems like you are putting forth this maximum exertion and not really going anywhere. Well anyhow once I started it was kinda fun; fun enough that I ran a lot further than I had planned. Then I spent lots of time stretching. That is about the only thing new here. I'm trying to plan out which races I will go to this spring, so stay posted.

I've already committed (pre registered) to the Mohican 100 and the Lumberjack 100.

I got this link from Steiner and thought some of the readers here may enojoy reading it. Its about Hipsters and adbusters wrote it (seems kinda ironic in some respects). It seems as if some people ought to review the movie SLC Punk.

Check it here.

And since I found slc punk in parts on youtube

Speaking of hipsters, I embarked on a journey to fix my fixed gear super commuter mountain bike, but came up one old skool drive side bb cup short. Even though the rust bucket I've been riding around on has fenders, I've had enough of it. Plus I hate starting a project only to be held up by not having something you need to finish it. I suppose the trusty 1987 trek 8000 with blue and white fade will be relegated to the porch until further notice.

All this writing must be boring so I will attempt to add a video:

p.s. this guy is pretty much my hero.

new look

2009-02-18T15:52:00.002-05:00

My bicycles sponsor, Independent Fabrication, just launched their new site. Its pretty cool. You should check it out if you have time. Download the 2009 IF Catalog here!

rainy day update

2009-02-18T15:22:00.004-05:00

I'll start things off the another case of pipe bombs and bikes and airports. The two don't mix, even though it is just a punk band and bike messengers (or wanna bes) look suspicious.

I've been listening to music again, this time mostly on Hype Music.

It searches blogs for new music and plays it on a popup player with links to buy or download the music for free. Pretty neat and better than pandora with no silly adds.

Anyhow the weather has taken a turn for the worse in Slippery Rock, PA. A mix or rain and snow. What else is new in NW PA? I've almost grown to expect this type of weather if nothing else. A sunny day here is always a gift. Plus never forget that my neighbor Punxy Phil is never wrong.

Voting is now on for the Breck Epic bloggerships. I'd highly recommend voting for Tomi. He's everything that the winner should be. If you need a #2 or #3. Jen and Team Dicky are not bad choices. Please vote, even if you don't in elections.

In other news, I cooked a wonderful meal the other day. Pictures of it will be up soon. It was the complete college kid meal of ramen noodles, but I added enough veggies and peanut sauce to it to make a delicious concoction.

Oh and I'm trying to purge my bike parts collection. Look for some cool stuff up for sale here soon. A 2007 IF steel dlx 17.5" custom fast geo with team paint and xtr goodies, a 2000? Bianchi BUSS blinglespeed 19.5" center to top, complete with gold ano raceface crankset, handlebars, seat post collar, paul hubs and other goodies. You know you want one. I'll also be selling some 26" wheels and other bike goodies.

Two IF racers crushed it this past weekend at 24 hours of Old Pueblo taking 2nd in the solo and solo singlespeed divsions. Congrats. Read more about it here.

Weekend of Riding

2009-02-15T22:11:00.002-05:00

Sam, Zach, and I spent the weekend riding at Moraine. The snow melted last week and the trails and rocks have either dried up lately or frozen up. Saturday for me was for riding and not dates. A pretty solid 5 hours logged on the trails and riding to and fro. Today(Sun) we had decided to ride somewhere else other than Moraine, but ended up going back to get another 3 or so hours of riding in. I decided to try to take a hike around some downed trees and ended up in briar patch after briar patch much to the amusement of Zach and Sam.

We met up the Henry Spreng at the end of our first lap and the rest of the cheese train had just hopped on the trail. It was the most people I've ever seen riding Moraine at once other than during the Month of Mud race. It was good to see the familiar faces: Matt, Tim, Parker & Co. I never saw Heath and Durba. I heard they were hangin in the parking lot.

Hopefully the weather stays tolerable enough to ride outside.

Oh yeah, we started team funny bunny, to train for road races and be silly in general. Check it out. I'm still not quite sure who made up the name, but watch for unofficial road domination in spring 2009 and check the blog.

Heatwave!

2009-02-11T18:19:00.003-05:00

I suppose now that I am riding outside it would be time to tell you about it. Well that and I'm excited about it. No pictures this time. Use your imagination.

Today Zach and I headed down to Butler to ride with Sam. It ended up being around a 4 hr. ride. It was good, lots of hills and what can I say we were excited to ride in short sleeves. Needless to say we were so excited that we sprinted around and rode pretty hard. Maybe a little too hard. Oh well we were riding.

Sam took Zach and I on a nice tour, with some dirt roads, mud and ice thrown into the mix, but we mostly just stuck to the road. The ride was a nice mix of hills with a few flats thrown in.

Not too much else new on the home front. Things in a school are busy with 21 credits this semester. Lots of schoolwork and a secret bicycle advocacy project in the works. The cross country skiing was nice while it lasted but give way winter, I wanna ride.

Oh yeah and I got my Pro license so I will have no other choice than to get fast this year. yeah right, we will see. I'm going to count my progree in how many places away from DNF I finish.

riding give way to skiing

2009-01-13T15:47:00.003-05:00

Another hiatus in my posting, big surprise I'm sure. Quite a few things have happened since I last wrote on here. Winter riding with the crew at Moraine, The Punk Bike Enduro, Christmas, The Colorado Work-cation spent behind my good friend Mr. Wintersteiger and now back to school at Slippery Rock with a foot of snow on the ground.

Lets start with the punk bike enduro, it was a great year with a huge turnout, and as expected lots of mud caused by melting snow. Right from the get-go I knew that the whole competition thing wasn't in the cards for me this year. I was having more fun talking to people and enjoying the day than competing. I did however score 1 point on the run up the insanely steep hill with your bike stage in which Justin decided to make 2x as long as it usaully is. A great time was had by all and the only negative thing that happened was that I wore through my rear pads which was to be expected.

The Colorado work cation was quite fun. I had no delays on my flights even though United managed to lose my 1 bag that I paid $15 extra to check. I suppose it is the holidaze what can you do. I saw Pete and Theo at the Taco Bell in the Denver Airport, talk about a small world. Then it was off to Devil's Thumb Ranch on the Home James Shuttle.

After Arriving at 1 in the morning on the day after Christmas, I found a couch in the employee housing lodge and passed out.

Both the Skate and Classic skiing conditions were excellent and I wish I would have logged a few extra k on the track classic style. Black Ten and Lactic Grande are still some of my favorites, and I never miss cruising in Waxwing and Blue Extra. Pittsburgh native and Head groomer Scott Paplokovic also crafted a new masterpiece called Ram's Curl which was great fun.

I was quick to get to work though and put in some serious hours in the shop mounting skis, waxing new skis, behind the rental counter and dialing in the new to DTR Wintersteiger Micro 1.

After working at the Wild Rose, this machine is not even close to as nice as their Sigma RS in terms of ease of operation, but with a skilled operator will still produce some great grinds. Don't get me wrong but I am still skeptic of all this Tazzari bologna. There weren't too many differing conditions to ski on but I'm positive that the grinds I put on many of the skis will perform quite well. The cold grinds skied especially well on the new dry, sharp snow crystals that were present for most of my stay.

One other cool part of the trip was the Fischer Winter Sales meeting at Devil's Thumb. I got to check out some of the new gear 2009 Fischer gear and speak with the Brand Manager from Austria.

The last Friday before my Saturday departure led to an excellent ski in the near full moon that made for better light than you might get on an overcast and snowy day. It almost made me not want to leave.

New Years Eve was great thanks to a bonfire/party that Petr threw. It was cool to get to meet Michael Prokov, world champion 4x racer. He sure konws how to pop his bottles. It was also great to hang out with the rest of the Czech mafia and tabertrash locals that showed up.

I think that almost sums it up. Now back to school in snowy western PA. My 1987 trek 8000 fixie was freed today and by that I mean not so fixed anymore and not on my choice, I think the threads ripped off the hub, who knows but its too cold outside and the bike is so covered with brown slush that I have no desire to bring it inside.

Enjoy Winter! or whatever that nordic ski team says, Subaru, no wait Fischer, no now Salomon/Saab I think .

ears

2008-11-19T13:32:00.002-05:00

I think my right ear has become infected. I also hate doctors and pills, maybe I should go see one as everything sounds all muffled. I'm kinda worried to go outside and ride like this. The doctor is almost starting to sound like a good idea.

wishing for fenders

2008-11-16T08:56:00.002-05:00

Ride back to Slippery Rock yesterday in the rain. It really wasn't raining too much, but had been and there was lots of water on the road. Man it would have been nice to have fenders. I was actually really comfortable for being wet, until the last 10 miles or so when it got really windy and started getting a little bit dark. It was a great ride though, there is something to be said about grinding out the miles alone.

I saw quite a few things:

3 Busch camo cans on the side of the road; 1 pounder -- these are elusive litter
2 trucks with dead deer in the back with legs sticking straight up
more road kill and other various beer cans/cases than I could count
1 pair or pliers ( I stopped to pick them up of course)
1 hazard triangle
1 empty 5th of vladimir

Keep in mind I saw all of these along PA's bicycle route V, be careful out there.

PUNK BIKE ENDURO

2008-11-14T13:29:00.002-05:00

Tis the season for fun, here is the announcement from the Dirt Rag website. Show up or miss out.

PUNK Bike Enduro 12-14-08
OUTLAWS
COME TO THE
19TH ANNUAL
PUNK BIKE ENDURO
SUNDAY DECEMBER 14th, 2008
THAT’S RIGHT THE 14TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWEEK LATER THAN USUAL
11 AM SHARP
DORSEYVILLE FIRE HALL
1OO CHARLES ST.
BLAWNOX PA 15238
A STAGE STAGE RACE FOR FUN AND POINTS
MOST POINTS WINS
NO FEES, NO NORBA, NO RULES
EATS & PARTY AFTER IT’S OVER
WE’LL BUY SOME BEER
YOU BRING THE REST (OR GO HUNGRY)
KITCHEN AVAILABLE
COURSE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
DRESS FOR COLD, WET WEATHER
YOU MIGHT WEAR A HELMET AS THERE IS NO INSURANCE
SUNDAY DECEMBER 7TH
SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH
TRAIL MAINTENANCE PRE-RIDES
CALL MOE’S CELL 412.302.9070
BE READY FOR ANYTHING

bang!

2008-11-11T14:09:00.003-05:00

Last night at about 3 am I woke to a loud bang. At first I just sat up in my bed, then I realized that my over inflated Conti Top Touring 2000's were angry at me not for only pumping them up to 100 psi when they say 70 and for cranking up the heat and leaving them close to the heater. I suppose riding rollers for over an hour yesterday may have done something, but probably not. Well hopefully I don't get anymore flats when I'm not even riding for awhile.

I guess it wouldn't have been such a big deal had the bike now been at the foot of my bed. The weirdest thing is that the tire didn't blow off the rim when I checked it out this morning. It was still on the rim, but flat, maybe the tooth fairy hires a tire popping elf? Who knows?

Oh on a sidenote, riding rollers for fitness rather than fun is pretty boring. It is still better than riding a trainer, but I think I need to hire a little kid to stick stuff in my spokes and throw rags, various bike and ski catalogs, and newspapers onto the rollers trying to get them to suck all the way through and spit out the back while I'm riding. Come to think of it, those wednesday nights at the Rose were actually training in disguise. Maybe someday I'll attain the skillz to ride the rollers while sitting on the handlebars rather than the seat, pedaling backwards, while shotgunning a beer. I think I should add that to an imaginary list of things to do before I die.

espresso

2008-10-31T15:31:00.004-04:00

I got hooked to coffee somewhere around the age of 18, when I worked at the SMR Nordic Center. Before that time I had no urge to drink the folgers my parents brewed and the decaf they drank in the morning. It had no body, no soul.

Anyhow SMR is lucky enough to be friends with nordic skier and coffee roaster Wade, the man behind Rocky Mountain Roastery, and it happens that he fueled the nordic center staff and guests with his coffee and even went so far to create a SMR Nordic blend.

After that I was hooked grinding and making coffee every morning with the Bunn Drip machine.

Fast forward two years to the Wild Rose. The well loved, Gaggia Baby white with coffee and grease stains that is still in service today having been rebuilt more times than most people's well loved suspension forks fueled our need for caffiene. I remember rolling into work on my bike on countless mornings, pushing the power button and filling the water reservoir. Then I would look through the repair slips for the day or start doing the finish prep on fresh ground nordic skis, waiting for the Gaggia to warm up.

I would come back out and run a blank shot through to warm up the portafilter then grind some of the beans from Montana coffee traders that we sold in the shop, wash out a cup made by Buck Chub and pull a shot. The first shots I pulled were never as good as those made by Jow, Master B, Dirty, or brOneil. I fact, I think they were probably quite heinous, but I drank them anyway. After some practice and a little instruction, my skills improved and I wasn't embarasssed to make drinks for other people.

The Gaggia always loved you back even if she needed a one of the screws that fell out of her put back in or a nice cleaning.

After moving back to PA, I scored a Krups Gaggia, which I have been told is actually an older Gaggia Baby from the late 70's. All metal constuction with some of the powdercoat chipping off and a smaller water reservoir. She still works well, and serves me daily although I think she will need a new group head gasket soon.

I just picked up an Ala di Vittoria La Valentina machine in need of some repairs. It is an automatic machine with an e61 group head and a shiny stainless exterior complete with cup warming surface on top and a plethora of other features, some call this a pro-sumer machine.
I'm not sure if the automatic controls will work and am considering trying to change it to a semi auto with some simple switches and wires from the electric supply shop. I haven't had time to get my hands dirty yet, but time will tell.

We'll see if my vintage Gaggia is soon to become jealous or if the La Valentina ever gets off the ground...

My affair with coffee has just been taken to the next level.

snow

2008-10-29T17:04:00.002-04:00

Today marked the first snow of the season. It was a little sooner than I would have liked. I'm still holding out for a last bout of Indian summer. Maybe I need to move to someplace warmer?

I'm not sure maybe I really need to move to someplace colder and just face the facts spending my winters xc skiing and riding when possible.

Either way I'm in W PA right now and all the snow has since melted and it is sunny outside with promised temps in the 50s this weekend.

Last night I did my first ride on the trainer for the season. It was pretty boring, but helped to have some company.

Winter plans include running, swimming, riding, and yoga. Maybe I'll be a triathlete afterall. Swimming is really boring though, we'll see how I fare.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the IF frame raffle. Sorry if your name isn't John May. At least your donation was tax deductible.

Anyhow, thanks for all of the support and look for big things to come from the mountain biking side if IF racing next season!

weekend of riding

2008-10-20T15:32:00.004-04:00

SRU homecoming was this weekend. There was a neat parade that the Leave it Green/Green Bike Initiative crew rode it. I think some people liked it. I rode the tandem with some girl. I should remember her name but don't. I just remember that she was rockin the PFD and sprayskirt steez that all the outdoor adventurerers were wearing. That thing is a chick magnet. Every time I ride around on it alone someone wants to hop on the back. I mean girls don't just randomly ask you for a ride in your car. It has to do with the bike, even with my ridiculous beard...

The rest of the weekend was filled with riding. Friday I went to Cross it up for a bit at Steve's house for some hot laps around his field at night. The loop is somewhere close to 1 3/4 mi and after some hot laps I was pretty tired.

Saturday after the parade, I hooked up with Danny W and Mr. Krack for a road ride. I just couldn't follow their lead like kool kids and ride a fixie road bike cause I don't have a sweet le tour converison. They were nice enough to let me follow on my silver with rust accents cross machine. We rolled to mercer and back and there was some extreme riding on and off the road going on. Dave even took one for the team doing some offroading and then Dan decided to punish him.

Sunday was a lazy ride back on PA's bike route V from slippery rock across the allegheny river and through the forest back to my house in Clarion. I'm guessing from road signs that this ride is about 45 miles and fun every time.

Oh yeah and if you were planning on seeing me a the PA mtb summit, I'm sure I missed out but a summer of racing and traveling has left me quite tired of driving long distances and also pretty light in the wallet. This isn't a good excuse but homework and other stuff pile up and time spent riding is better than driving. Hopefully I'll get some W. PA trail work goin soon.

Whoa Lookout!

2008-10-16T10:39:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I suppose you just gotta get your coloraditude on.

2008-10-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

More riding at moraine tonight. This time during dusk and then turn on the lights for some fun. Well first my light decided to fly off my handlebars and into a log. It is a super sick self contained exposure light from across the pond. Guess I should have tightened that nut that I never touch.

Then right after we turn the lights on, my front tire decides to blow right off my rim on the downhill. I suppose even with tubes you are never safe. I think the 8 inch rotor and like 24 psi I was running and the fact that I was turning didn't help. Well there were only a few nicks in the rim, new tube pump it up and go. Ride the rest, my light runs out of batteries at .5 miles form the car. Follow Greg back to the car and call it a night. It was a fun ride and the leave were in full color

moraine

2008-10-15T13:13:00.002-04:00

Moraine was lots of fun. It is a really hard race for me because it is quite short but technical and if you don't pass people at the beginning to get the hole shot then you end up behind and struggling to pass people the whole race. They added in a newer section of trail that was really fun and quite flowy, not so rocky. It loops over by the snowmobile trails if you've ridden at Moraine before.

Anyhow, As I stated I didn't go fast at the beginning since I'm more of a turtle than a jack rabbit when it comes to racing especially the starts. I was hoping to be all warmed up since I had ridden over from my house and got nice an spun out. It still didn't happen. I was able to pass a few people on the small section of fireroad and a climb on the first lap and a few more on the trail.

After that it was just riding trying the catch a few more. I ended up behind fellow singlespeeder Heath Neely and after bombing the downhill I was on his wheel, but not for long though, one of my few bobbles of the race happened and I lost him again never being able to catch up to him. At the same time Brad Kreily had his sights on me, although he got really close to me his really spinny gearing wouldn't let him catch up on the flats. My 2:1 was definately overkill for this course especially when I got stuck behind some of the geared riders and lost momentum on rocky uphills.

Other than those who fell victim to the rocks, and flatted the rest of the race was quite non eventful. I also learned after the race my friend Danny decided to give-r on the last steep climb and puked all over himself. He's my unoffical race hero.

Results here.

bloggin update

2008-10-12T18:18:00.004-04:00

Maybe I'm just not cut out for blogging. I'm not good at taking pictures, when I do I'm not good at putting them on the internet. Sometimes I have something to say to the internet. I think I'm going to try harder or who knows maybe this thing will lapse again.

I did some races this summer 4 hunner mile ones, and 50 mile one, one on my birthday in which a stick got caught in my rear derailleur and exploded it. I also did some on a singlespeed which hasn't happened since 2006 and more or less 2005 when I started racing.

I also did a triathlon, it was pretty short, but swimming and running are still really hard. 1/2 mile swim seems to take forever, lots of sidestroking going on. I got 3rd. My run and bike were really fast even though I ran over some glass and flatted. it was an offroad tri. Clarion locals have been putting this on for like 20 years. 2nd saturday in july. show up, no cost, donations for beer and food accepted, thats all. you can do a team too. supposedly someone was looking at the times and if I would have gone faster on the swimming I owuld have won. I guess 8 min is lots to lose.

I also went to a cross practice in frick park. It was really cool too bad I'm not ready to drive a long way to race for 1 hour.

I went to CO for the firecracker 50 with Carol. We drove a long ways to get there. And got tired driving straight thru. I went pretty slow at 10,000 ft. I saw some friends there, and got in a few good rides. Caught up with Rocco. headed out on the 5th of July saw some fireworks along I70 on the way home. Discovered new things about my ipizzle and the music that was on it during this trip. I still don't wear it while riding, for good reasons. get used to hearing the birds chirp and yourself breating hard and traffic and the person trying to pass you. Went for a really cool mural viewing ride in pittsburgh the day we got home.

I spent most of the rest of my time during the summer swimming in the river and carrying beer into coolers of bars. This seems like a good job, but going in and out of a 30 something degree cooler and 80 degree heat a bunch of times a day makes you tired. It also doesn't pay too good, and lifting kegs does a number on you when you lift and stack 50 in a row. Anyhow if you have a chance invest in the beer or alcohol business, people will drink more of it during tough times. Start a beer store, you'll sell a bunch.

It was interesting to learn a little about the warehouse/beverage business though. Oh yeah peeling out on forklifts ain't no thang.

Recently I have returned to school at slippery rock. I've been working on this thing called the Green Bike Initiative. I'm hoping to get it figured out so more campuses and communities will be able to adopt something like this. I've also been working on growing a heinous beard. I don't have much patience and will be shaving it or sculpting it into something else soon.

I did the month of mud finals at Moraine today and got 7th in singlespeed. I wish I used an easier gear ratio. 2:1 through the rocks with people stopping in front of you and having to lose momentum is hard. Lessons learned. Who knows if I would have gome faster with easier gearing.

I'll try to write something better up about the race sometime.

I'm selling IF racing raffle tickets, please buy one from me. Only $10 and tax deductable, you could win a steel frame of your choice. Or pay to upgrade to Ti or one with carbon and ti lugs called this xs or one made from 953 stainless steel. I have 6 left. Get them while they're hot!

I'm also wanting to sell my bikes so I can get 29ers. If you are interested in a 17 or 17.5 IF steel deluxe frame or full bike let me know. I also have a Bianchi BuSS with gold parts for sale.

I also got big plans for next year and all, well when haven't I. Us of A cycling says I'm going to be all PRO and shit next year. Who knew? Any how since I'm going to be pro according to people that usually put on expensive "races" that usually aren't that fun, I better act like one. I'm even getting white bar tape and carbon everything to celebrate! Well maybe it will happen or maybe I'll be dfl. I'm also hoping to go to singlespeed worlds next year in Durango. i gotta get an internship, so it might not happen, but who knows where the internship is gonna be. I hope to do lots of long races again and really smash that 9 hour mark this year, like closer to the 8 hour flat mark. I'm also hoping to make and pedal some wares to carry things while on bikes, we'll see if that works out.

Anyhow as far as 2008 goes, I'll be at the punk bike enduro, and maybe the dirty dozen, I really wanted to go to the dirtier dozen, but missed it again this year, so I suppose it will be climbing instead of drinking and riding. If you fancy nordic skiing, I'll be in Colorado making a guest appearance at devil's thumb and maybe even snow mtn ranch to go skiing, put some fresh grinds on skis with devil's thumb's (thats wierd) new to them Wintersteiger Micro 1, and teach people about skiing. Watch out Zach Caldwell and Mr. Natron BOmb, dynomite in the house grinding skis.

I think thats it. Have a nice day.

Mohican 100

2008-06-10T09:42:00.004-04:00

The weekend started with a nice easy 2.5 hour drive to Camp Nuhop where the working stiffs of the racing world had set up camp ready to bear the winds and rain the night was about to bring forth. Those oh so pro or more privileged stayed in hotels and cabins either at camp Nuhop or close by. Although I did hear of one poor soul who stayed and a cabin with a more than leaky roof.

I was really surprised at how nice camp Nuhop was. It was the perfect venue for a race. Close to the trails, showers and bathrooms, and cabins or camping. It was also nice to see some familiar faces: Harlan eating dinner while walking around the parking lot, Scott Root camped next to me, and Tom McMillar the fixed racer/cog miester. I quickly set up camp, shuffled my gear from my car and ate diner as I had arrived later than I would have liked. Some of the local shop dudes invited me over to their citronella candle fire as they 2 year old Bud and talked about marshaling the course the next day, the rain and high winds that were about to come and how glad they were to not be racing.

The night came along with the rain and honestly I didn't sleep too well. At about 1 in the morning my tent started dripping in one convenient spot, right on my head. Then the number of drips grew to about 10. Luckily I had my big Pedro's golf umbrella to set up inside the tent keeping my dry and allowing for a little sleep. With such little sleep 5 am came around just as I was getting some sleep.

Get up, shuffle around, eat oatmeal, bananas, drink coffee, water, put on clothes, put stuff in jersey pockets. The normal prerace routine, except everyone had to drive 15 minutes to Loudonville for the race start, which was a little hectic, but understandable.

After taking a middle of the pack starting position due to a last minute bathroom run, the race began. Through main street in Loudonville, everyone jockeying for position before we hit the trail which happened much sooner than I thought. Rolling on greasy trails, passing by in greasy corners, some nice two wheel drifts, whoa here comes the first hike a bike followed by a nice downhill where I tried to put on my glasses to keep the mud out of my eyes. Rookie move, I know they were going to fog up just not this bad. Take them back off, one of the lenses pops out with out me noticing, put them back on and realize mud is still getting in my left eye, sorry glasses back in the jersey pocket you go, you're gonna sit this one out.

We settle into to some nice singletrack, really flowy stuff cut nicely into the side of the hill, winding up down and around. It doesn't take me long to get behind a racer who decided he needs to walk everythign right in the middle of the trail, a few wet rocks, get off, a wet log, stop get off. I ask him to move to the side when walking as the trail is lined with trees on both sides so I can ride through, no answer. 7:30 and I am loosing my patience. Tomi and Dicky roll by on the chase crew, and finally I get by. We continue to ride more sweet singletrack. I catch up to Tomi, who tells me its all about the tempo. I hope he breaks 9 hrs cause that is what I'm trying for too. More trail more passing. Roll up to Scott Root. Chill with him on some climbs saving the gas in the tank. More end up having to sneak by and ride my own race. Rolling right through aid one. This race is a blast great flowy trails that took the rain quite well and are now moist and tacky. Catch up to a pack of riders. Roll up to Mike Shultz who broke his Thomson seat post, but was able to re insert it and ride midget style spinning really fast. He tells me to pass but I chill for a few then roll by when the trail widens. Several of up come together to form a rolling peloton on the singletrack. Sean O'neil from Ellicottville Bike, Me, Tomi's back, DougyFresh, and a few others. That lasts until a nice hike a bike followed by a more than sloppy downhill.

I don't remember too much after this just more trails and doubletrack leading into aid two, which was in some generous people's garage equipped with a hose to clean drive trains and excellent service. Continue on playing leap frog again with Tomi as he blew through the aid feeling good. This is the last time I'll see him. More dirt roads, 4 wheeler paths eventually dumping us out onto the road. Road riding in no mans land. "Where the is everyone? I think I'm going the right way." Ok good more arrows; more roads. Finally more singletrack this time it goes UP then down on an oh so sweet downhill, catch a few on the DH and in the farmer's fields which head into aid three. What a blast.

Grab some food, meet back up with O'Neil from Eville Bike. Climbing into some sweet singletrack that goes UP again this time the legs feel it. Past O'Neil keep rolling more downhill, big grin on my face, out to the road. The sun is out and it is feeling a little warm. O'Neil back rolling together just chattin. This is fun, more roads, gravel paved, dirt, O'Neil gets away. Where did my legs go. Climb u[p to some horse trails, nice downhills, back out to a road, where did the arrows go? Meet up with another guy take a small detour that others before us must have taken to looking at the tire tracks. We get back on track. The guy wants to hammer, I try but let him go. More roads. Finally onto the rail-trail from hell. Boring slightly uphill, big mud puddles.

Meet up with some other riders for some paceline action. Sitting in chatting. We reel in a 1 speeder, let him hang for a bit, he gets spit back out, sorry dude. Rebecca Reusch and I get spit off the back, we work together catching back up to the others at aid four.

In and out of aid four down lots of water as we had all run out between aid 3 and 4. Back in the saddle more roads, nice downhills. Feeling good 28 mi to go, let's bust through it. More paceline pulling up front, run into Dicky. singlespeeds have 2 speeds, riding or walking. Looked like he was in the pain cave, tried to give him a draft on the downhill, but he either couldn't catch it or didn't want it. Keep rolling with Rebecca back into the woods, cross a creek with a bridge out, more climbing that turns into a hike a bike. I hang back to take a leak, start hiking again, try to catch Rebecca, so close but so far out of reach. Oh well, keep riding strong.

Keep going, roll into aid 5 a little tired but grab another bottle a slam a gel, catch Dicky at the aid, but into the woods he is gone. "Keep going no to far to the end." turns into "When the hell does it end." Riding along the creek some of the roots on the hiking trail cause hasty dabs, I guess it hit me. Keep going. Through some campgrounds back into the woods, shade feels great, then roll out to the dam and see the hike a bike up the breast works. Not exactly my idea of fun. Some day use guy not associated with the race is cheering us on military style, "KEEP YOUR HEADS UP, KEEP GOING, THE END IS NEAR." I thought it was someone involved with the race until I reached the top and asked him how far to the finish. He said, "not too far I'm guessing." Thanks! More road climbing, pass Churtle or some Trek type person in the 100k. Not too long. Onto more dirt road, some Freddie Fu dude still feeling strong get by, stick on him I tell myself, not happening. Roll into Camp Nuhop headquarters, back through for a little extra and across the finish to snag a pint glass in 9:14.

Shower up, hang out, eat some BBQ food, talk to Harlan, Rebecca, others. Time to wash my bike, meet K Combs who rocked out in the 100k. Talk to some more people. End the night around another citronella candle with Tomi and Co., Paula from MI, Doug, Dicky. What a way to spend a weekend! I almost forgot, results here.

It was a great race, hope everyone else had as much fun as I did. Still looking to go sub 9 in the Lumberjack, I don't know though it is 100% singletrack, which may be hard.

it has been a while

2008-06-10T09:27:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted anything in a while because I've been busy riding and working and just haven't felt like sitting down to type.

My summer started with the finish of finals, then job searching, because someone has to pay for all these entry fees. I got turned down lots. People in Clarion work the same type of jobs I've worked elsewhere for the summer or whatever as their careers. This makes it tough to compete with waitresses that have been doing the same thing for 20 years.

Well finally one guy was kind enough to help my poor old soul and gave me a job as a beer delivery man. I drive around in a big van delivering beer to local bars, moving stuff around on a fork lift and carrying kegs which is gives me a nice upper body workout. I'll admit that carrying one keg to stay put all night is a lot easier than lifting 10 of them every day. The one problem with this job is that it is easy to dream of all the cases of beer I could buy only to have my dreams shattered by the fact that it is a minimum wage job and that it would take 3 hours of work to pay for one case of good beer. I'll try to include some pictures of me hard at work.

Since summer started I also picked up a hippy lawn mower from my old high school english teacher's trash. It was like 10 pm and I didn't think she saw me sang it, but the next week at the grocery store she saw me and ask if I had been using it. She must have been spying from the window like a hawk, tthough. This thing is real classy. Wooden handle to push with, cast iron mower assembly, sharp blades. Look for some pics of this beaut.

april showers bring ???

2008-05-09T08:55:00.002-04:00

Little five hundo first found at C-R-C and HATBL:

I had a blast but didn't go fast

2008-04-28T15:45:00.005-04:00

I travelled down to the Greenbrier Challenge in Hagerstown, MD over the week end with Corey and Chris. We got there on Saturday with enough time to check into the hotel and pre ride the course. Just as we were checking out the first downhill for the second time and trying to get a little more riding in, rainstorms really moved in. We had talked to Amanda before she headed out to get a lap in on the course, and were feeling bad that she got caught in the torrential downpour. Luckily we got out and packed up before the it really hit and didn't get soaked. The rain continued throughout the night and made me really glad we were staying in a hotel. I normally like to camp out at races because it is cheaper and you are right there with no need to drive to the venue and you usually get to meet and hang out with some cool racers and campers.

Anyhow I was really excited about the course at it had some fun sections and great downhills. It also had some rocky type uphills. More on the course later.

Raceday came and we were able to sleep in quite a bit more than I am used to. Corey having never raced a Norba race before had to start in the sport class at 11:30. So we were out of the hotel at 9:30 or so. The next two hours were used to talk to some people, check over my bike which I had just completely rebuilt from even the fork being in pieces on Friday night/Saturday morning, and watch Corey race as well as the marathon race. I talked to the Berg who was back visiting from CO. I caught up with Harlan while warming up tagging along. Also good the see my fiercest competitor Jason who I had met at the punk bike enduro last fall.

The race started and for some reason although I wasn't feeling the normal horsepower in my legs while warming up, none of it was there leaving me in the back off of the line. Granted I didn't have a good start position, but usually I can give a fight to get in the midpack during the start even if I have to resort to picking creative lines. I'm quite positive I was DFL heading into the the first downhill. I began to pick it up mixing it up with the guys in the back of the pack gaining a few here and there, losing one on the hills, I'm still moving forward, but where the hack is that hillclimbing power? Has it gone the way of too many beers, too much sedentary activity, not enough hours on the trainer? I hope to find out soon. Now I didn't go into my fist big race on the East Coast of the season expecting to win, but I had hoped to be able to at least put up a fight even if I didn't finish strong.

The rest of the race turned out to be a different type of beast, I was passing people on the DH and getting passed by all of them as I struggled up the slippery climbs. I wanted to go into my quasi singlespeed hillclimbing bailout standing up and hammering in the middle or big ring, which usually works, but it was too slippery and wet for me to get any traction standing up. Maybe I should start taking notes from ThomP.

The part of the course that was an absolute blast was the last downhill which had turned into a creek after the storms. It was wet the night before, but was new full of clay and mud. I was rallying past other racers taking crazy line and almost lost it once, blinking a mile a minute as my eyes clogged up with mud. It reminded me of the mud puddle riding days in the woods behind my house when I was 10. The other cool feature which I am sure my hubs, fork and bb are thanking me for was riding through the small section of lake that had crept up onto the trail from the rainfall. Something just made it cool.

My bike being in pieces the day before worried me, but it gave me no problems at all shifting was spot on, the ride was perfect, the paint still stunning, and the fork plush. I think this week will call for some new brake pads though.

Well over and out. No racing next weekend as I've got to see the kid get married. There should be a large racer/mtn bike contingent there. I'm already looking forward to the Mohican and trying to get that horsepower back. Thanks to IF Racing and those who keep supporting me.

Results here.

Going to Maryland

2008-04-23T09:43:00.002-04:00

I suppose I've been to the Baltimore Aquarium before, but have never really spent any time in MD. Maybe its time to start counting the state I've ridden my bike in rather than the ones I've set foot in.

Anyhow the competition at Greenbrier should be great, although this will be my first race of the season, so I'm sure to know where I stand after this one. I've been logging quite a few consistent miles both on the road and dirt over the last few weeks, mostly solo, but I didn't ride nearly enough between xc skiing sessions this spring. I'm sure I'll have a great time win or lose and it sure is nice to race a bike with new cables/housing, chain, fresh bearings and grease on all the threads, and a smooth fork with new oil, and new rubber. OH YEaH! No creaking, spot on shifting and 100mm of slick travel. Look for a enthusiastic report or a sob story next Monday.

Looks like Cohutta was a blast, maybe next year I'll be able to justify 26 hours of driving for 9 hours of racing, it beat the pants off a traveling to a west coast Norba and racing for 2 hours and a 30 min short track though. Results at cyclingnews courtesy of IF's own Mr. Price.

ride time adding up

2008-04-18T08:22:00.003-04:00

Been getting in some ride time, some people call it miles in the bank, junk miles if you are a roadie, time in the saddle, only time will tell if its working. Moraine last Sunday, Kennerdell on Tuesday, and a big 65 give or take a few yesterday started in Slippery Rock hit up the 58 in Harrisville took an unexpected detour down to Bruin. Back to Parker, cross the Allegheny, West freedom, Callensburg, Cross the Clarion to Knox, and home to Shippenville. Great ride and grat 75 deg weather for this time of year.

I'll leave you with the only picture I have from Moraine

2008-04-10T08:41:00.003-04:00

Decided to hop on the Crown Jewel yesterday for a spin on the roads. I still can't believe how nice the weather has been. Since leaving the SLC ride time has been so much better, no waiting at traffic lights inhaling smog, just hop out the door and start pedaling, so many nice rural roads to ride on as well. Every time I ride on the road, there are thoughts about new loops or rides I've never done. Looking to get some action up on the 666 this weekend just cause, maybe a century for fun. Hopefully I don't get hit by drunk fisherman.

heatwave!

2008-04-08T22:42:00.002-04:00

The mercury hit 74degrees today in Slippery Rock, Pa. Riding was oh so nice, shorts and jersey, some armwarmers in my pocket for when the sun went down that I didn't end up using. Discovered more new and reclaimed 1 track in Bill's playground. Things coming into form, felling better, rolling over the rocks and logs makes for fun as well as those BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP trails with carvey turns and soft pine needles to give a spongy feel. I'm so helplessly addicted, hope it doesn't rain too much tomorrow.

spring arrives

2008-04-06T22:32:00.005-04:00

Spring is finally here or so it seems, I got out both days this weekend. Kennerdell Saturday and around here (Clarion) today. Yesterday was the first time I rode at Kennerdell after hearing all the hoopla. It was great with some nice rocky downhills and an uphill that killed my legs on the singlespeed. We saw quite a few horses and some other riders in one of the other parking lots as we were driving by on the way back.

Slippery Rock held its first Green Bike festival yesterday, complete with critical mass type ride around town with about 30 students and community members and a police escort. I think the police want more people to ride bikes because it would make their lives lots easier in a town like Slippery Rock. Then guest speakers Dave Krack of fixgear bike advocacy and Scott of Bike pgh talked about commuting by bike and other bike related issues and advocacy. Brad Yoder played some music, we gave away a Sun Cruiser bike in a free raffle and a band from Michigan called Dali Rocket rounded out the festival, it was great to see such a turnout and hopefully we will have another one soon. The Green Bike initiative is all about getting more students to use bikes as a means of transportation rather than driving 1/2 mile to school from off campus apartments everyday. More than that we fix up and recycle bikes for students as well as release bikes which are painted green and left on campus and around town for students to hop on and leave at their destination.

Today's ride included a pleasant surprise as I discovered some new trails in a trail network I hadn't ridden yet this year, glad Bill built them as I am looking even more forward to summer now. A solid 3 hour of riding from my front door. Ran over a beer bottle covered in leaves at a fourwheeler trailhead on the way to the 1track. I was almost sure to hear the hiss of my tire or see glass embedded in both front and rear tires, but got lucky. Too bad I hadn't planned on riding for quite so long and only brought 1 bottle and no food. Luckily a stop by my friend Curt's house on the way home a some trampoline jumping with his little brother got me rehydrated for the way home. Sorry no pics again use you imagination.

Bicycle Advocacy!

2008-04-03T08:33:00.000-04:00

From here: http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/pennsylvania-mountain-bike-summit/

Pennsylvania Mountain Bike Summit
Posted: April 2nd, 2008 by K-Man

The following message is from an email sent by Central Pennsylvania IMBA Rep. Frank Maguire:

OK, OK, so it has been tried before, but now more than ever it seems important for mountain bikers in Pennsylvania to get organized. There has been some chatter on PA forum at MTBR.com about this as well. And being organized doesn’t need to be a top heavy structure with no fun allowed. What is probably needed is a means of communication and better coordination between clubs and land managers.

Why is this important? For one thing, the PGC is about to roll out their program for allowing mountain bikers back into State Game Lands. The draft proposals for this change would require a local club to “adopt” a game lands trail and agree to maintain the trail using recognized trail maintenance standards. It is important that information on the various points of this can be shared, leading to more successes and more trails to ride.

In addition to the PGC, State Parks are looking at expanding their bike access. Right now, trails in State Parks are closed unless posted open, making it much easier for a land manager to avoid appearing to be the bad guy for not allowing bikes. There is a push going on right now in Harrisburg to expand recreational opportunities, with bike facilities being pretty high on the list.

To this end, we here at the Nittany Mountain Bike Association, in conjunction with IMBA, have reserved a camp in the Rothrock State Forest here in Centre County for the weekend of May 9-11 for a “Pennsylvania Mountain Bike Summit.” The purpose of this is to meet in person and discuss our opportunities to work together in improving access throughout the state, and have some fun riding the awesome trails in Rothrock while we’re at it. The discussion will be facilitated by Ryan Schutz, IMBA’s new grassroots advocacy consultant.

The camp is reserved from Friday through Sunday. The plan is to have our “meeting of the minds” on Saturday evening, but plan to make a ride weekend of it. RSVP to frank@mtnittanywheelworks.com and please use “PA Summit” in the subject line. Questions can be addressed to either Frank or Kevin, who is at mtbiker11@juno.com.

Recap:
What: PA Mountain Bike Summit
Where: Rothrock State Forest,
When: May 9-11
Who: Anyone who wants to improve mountain biking in PA. Mulitple representatives from the same club is not a problem. The 4H camp can has room for 100 people camping, the meeting hall will hold about 50.
Why: Why not?

repeal act 44

2008-04-02T18:00:00.001-04:00

For those non Pennsylvanians out there or those who haven't heard, this is where the toll on I 80 will come from and the Drink tax in Allegheny county comes from.

2008-03-31T15:07:00.001-04:00

don't think too hard about life, either way, you'll never make it out alive

Weekend of fun

2008-03-31T11:04:00.004-04:00

It seemed the weather cooperated this weekend and the clouds parted the skies like moses was parting the red sea. This was quite a weekend for western pa. Skiing Saturday possibly the last day of the year, at href="http://www.skidenton.com">Denton, wish there were more jibs, things got a little stale, but it was still fun and I attempted to ski over some 'grass' at high speed that turned out to be more like rocks and mud, LEAN BACK and hope for the best. No seriously I meant to do it, I just didn't think it would stop me so fast.

Ride Sunday with Greg, still clearing blowdowns from the winter, things surprisingly dry, rigid fork on the bike added some excitement, HA seems way too steep, the zoke is going back on soon I think. Rain the rest of the week, hope things clear up. Time on the trainer != fun. Trainer < href="http://potomacvelo.com/events/gc/GreenbrierChallenge.htm">greenbrier.

Looks like the big boys & girls have started their season with fontucky and cape epic. Jan took 6th in semi slow at the circus. Pro podium was filled with the normal players. Georgia gould took the wnms again, can't help but ponder. If people are blaming Floyd, I'm speculating about her and the japanese women mtbers who were successful overnight and rock racing. Just scratchin my chin pondering a little.

Cape Epic seems like the real deal, the biggest offroad stage race in the world, lots of international competition and adventure. Trek/VW is in the forefront of big pro teams in my opinion, sending riders to races they are interested in, pushing the envelope, rather that just going to the same corporate, norba races year in and year out.

Enough ranting for today, go ride your bike.

First ride in the woods this year

2008-03-26T22:57:00.004-04:00

Well, the snow here is finally melting, I did ride through lots of snow and ice today, but I finally got my fix, maybe not the fix you are thinking about. No more trainers for a while hopefully. Lots of the dirt roads were quite muddy en route to the trails, but that was because of the 4 wheelers and offroaders. Other than lots of downed trees, sticks, and some ice and snow the trails were really dry as they are on a hillside. Sorry for the lack of pics, but I forgot to put the memory card back in my camera and realized that there would be no picture taking after trying to snap the first one. Oh yeah and I cleaned a skinny today that I don't think I ever have before. More rides to come and hopefully more pics.

By the way, RRR is happening this year, thanks to Dennis at E ville bike shop and WNYMBA. This is one of my favorite races, too bad it is so late in the season, anyhow I can't wait.

more snow

2008-03-16T20:20:00.003-04:00

Here are some skiing pictures mostly from Snow Mountain.

Jody skiing back from the cirque at WP.

"backcountry skate skiing experience"
Self portrait attempts

It is surprising that these trees haven't been demolished by the pine bark beetle yet. The Fraser valley looks much different than a few years ago when I first lived there. The YMCA is cutting lots of trees down to lessen the chance of it going up in flames, which is exactly what needs to happen to stop the beatle, but something called civilization is in the way.

superstitious people call something like this a ghost, I write it off a having superior camera skillz
Finishing up.WorkThanks to Tim for a fast grind, beats the pants off of a Tazzari grind in my opinion. I've skied and worked with skis with both for those naysayers. Where much of my week was spent. Work.Now vacation is over back to school and time to get back on the bike other than my "transportation" rides to Devil's Thumb and Granby.

spring breakin

2008-03-11T02:19:00.002-04:00

Skiing has been great in here in CO. Its not like it is even spring. Yesterday it did get up to 40 degrees though. The ski trails show no sign of snow melting. I haven't really taken any good pictures of skiing, because I never want to stop to take pictures. I've been working here to fund my travels, teaching lessons, selling skis, working the rental counter. Maybe I'll go out classic skiing today and take some pics, hopefully I'll get some tonight of cat track gnar at the resort, and maybe the paranoid pot head kid will let us into sunspot. Too bad he locked the door when he saw us coming and we pulled the wires to his sled and he probably won't be going anywhere soon. Everyone else who has ever worked there at night for the past 4 years has let us in, but not this paranoid kid. Some have even cooked for us. I do have a few pictures here though.

Pictures are of Jeff, Cory, Igor and I at sunspot. About a 2000 ft vertical climb, the section of cranmer was fun on the way down with skate skis.

You snooze you lose

2008-02-29T11:36:00.003-05:00

I had set my sights on the Cohutta 100 earlier this winter, but in my haste to register partly fueled with not finding someone to carpool down with, I didn't register, check today and well it is all full up.

I'm somewhat glad the Cohutta didn't work out for me as its really close to finals time and I'm not where I'd like to be in terms of training this year. The extra week until Greenbrier will be nice. I think I'm not the only one though. Tomi and Dicky seem to be in fine form.

I also checked the Iceman Cometh site and it seems that there is a lottery to enter this year, more than 6 months ahead of the race, and I missed it by 2 days. As well as sswc08 on new years eve, I wasn't worried about computers, I had more important things to worry about like standing up and resisting food poisoning. Well I'm gonna try to get registered for some races now, I hope they don't ask me to fill out any preliminary applications or something.

Frame Raffle!

2008-02-26T16:27:00.002-05:00

IF Racing is holding a Frame Raffle to support the team and the charities they support. Tickets are $10 and the prize is any IF Steel frame.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=5940

Tell all your friends.

Singlespeeding = Cheating?

2008-02-26T15:49:00.003-05:00

I just read this post today and think that I might kinda agree with it. While the few people who might read this blog may say that I ride bikes with gears and everything, I started out racing bikes on a singlespeed. Now over my lifetime, I'm sure that I've logged many more miles with gears, coasting, and all the other commodities of the 21st century. I think that, although I've only met Brad once, he might be onto something. When I started racing, there was no SS class for me. Maybe some promoters had it at that time, or showcased SS riders that placed amongst geared riders, but there was no check here for SS on the entry form. I'm not saying that because there was no SS class for me that there shouldn't be one for anyone, but aren't we all just riding and racing bikes, what makes a SS bike so different from one with gears? Does the coasting, spinning out give 1speeders a rest and the gear ratio force them to hammer on the uphill? For which categories is this valid? If someone is reading this they probably don't need a singlespeed class in my opinion, they should be racing with their age group, or in the open class. I've never seen a 1speeder win a world cup race though, so maybe world cup racers turned 1speeders need their own class. I guess I am just a proponent of the what makes you so special, run what you brung school of thought.

I still show up to races every now and then on a 1speed, but have never raced the 1speed cat. Maybe I'll try to keep it that way.

What do you think? Would you quit racing if the SS class was abolished, would more people ride gears, would geared bike riders cry when they get beaten by singlespeeders? Would they invent a 36 incher or a fixed gear class instead? Am I disrupting the cosmos of bicycle racing?

snow and rain

2008-02-18T11:00:00.002-05:00

Last week in NW PA we got some nice snow and rain. Enough to go xc skiing. I might have been able to ride my bike but the nice layer of ice between the two layers of snow would have probably not made it fun. I did some telemarketing at ski denton on sat. On Sunday, I started to get sick with something. Today is horrible. My head hurts, and all I want to do is go lay down. I even took some medicine. Oh and it rained last night, melting all the rain and getting to like 50 deg F, then today it is back to 25 and snowing. Here's to hoping winter either comes or goes and I feel better.

Anyhow, enough complaining. Some people down in the dirty south had to deal with snow in what was supposed to be a fair weather 24 hour race. Looks like several of my friends from Utah went down to race. My favorite grips, Titus laydeez, Mr. "raw power" Runyan, Jack momo.

Sorry thats all I got for now.

Handmade Bikes

2008-02-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

I didn't go to Portland, but lots of other people did and saw the bike art. Word has it Lope and Lance were there. Urban velo went and took some nice pictures. As always lots of new innovations and ideas coming from guys in their garages and workshops. I think I see more innovations coming from the small guys than Specialized when they are always saying innovate or die or something like that. Check it out here: NAHBS

I look forward to making the trip to Indy next year to check it out.

Looks like more skiing and riding bikes in CO over spring break before the racing season starts maybe the altitude will help.

6 more weeks of winter.

2008-02-02T10:46:00.001-05:00

Happy Groundhog day! For all you bicycle riders out there, this may not be what you want to hear. I saw it myself at 7:25 this morning with the thousands of other people. Punxy Phil saw his shadow this morning up on Gobbler's Nob. I live about 40 min away and had never been to see him before, so today was it. I look forward to going back next year. He's rarely wrong and for those of you who saw the Groundhog Day movie, it not quite the same.

Here's some memories from summer to hold you all over.

This is not the Place ride w/ wild rose posse. 3 sandwich, mormon trail

W101 from bob:

Ramponi right behind me in 3 bridges:

Potential 2008 Race Schedule

2008-01-16T22:50:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is. Hopefully I'll see lots of you at the races. This is a pretty big list and I might have to scratch a few of these as spring nears.

Cohutta 100, Tennessee April 19

Greenbriar AMBC Challenge, Maryland April 27

Dash for Cash ??, Pennsylvania

Mohican MTB 100, Ohio May 31^st

Raccoon Rally, New York

Stoopid 50, June Pennsylvania

Lumberjack 100, Michigan June 14

Firecracker 50, Colorado July 4

Windham Mountain Norba National, New York July 12

Mount Snow National Championship, Vermont July 17-20

6 Hours of Power, New York
Wilderness 101, Pennsylvania July 26

Darkhorse 40, New York August 3
Fool’s Gold 100, Georgia August 16

Midnight Madness 12 hour, Pennsylvania
Shenandoah 100, Virginia August 31

Terror of Teaberry, Pennsylvania September

Month of Mud Series, Pennsylvania

Roots, Rocks, Ridges; New York

Laurel Classic, Pennsylvania September

Revenge of the Rattlesnake, West Virginia September 27

God’s Country Marathon, Pennsylvania Oct

Iceman Cometh, Michigan

Dirty Dozen, Pennsylvania Dec

Holiday Valley Wed night Series

The passing of Ronnie Thomson

2008-01-16T16:17:00.000-05:00

A sad day in bike world Ronnie Thomson passed away a few days ago. He is the hard working man and backbone behind LH Thomson who brought us all the benchmark in stems and seatposts. See here for an obituary.

holidaze

2008-01-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Spend some time in Colorado over break. Lots of skiing, working, visiting friends. No picture taking. Sorry.

Place of employment: DTR

I spent my mornings here: doug e and wade

Nights here and here

one pic of me and co workers from Gwen.

Skiing was nto disappointing, Lactic Grande kept my legs fresh while Black 10 kept me turning and all the trails in between. With the Xc skiing over its time to hop back on the bike for good. Cohutta is coming soon. Hopefully posts will be a little less sporadic now.

Punk bike n@

2007-12-03T22:56:00.001-05:00

Stage 1 fun

Punk bike romping through the muddy forest happened yesterday. Most of the usual suspects that I've met since moving back were there.

Timmy D took it all, last years champ Danny Wilson took numero dos, Scott Root 3, and Toph with the clutch punk spotted 2 seconds after I didn't see it in 4th, after that I don't remember off hand. I took 10th according to the Dirt Rag website. There are some good pics there as well. As for the fab females Carol took the win again this year. Can she go for 3? Michelle in 2, Paula in 3rd. My buddies Greg and Garick were also there rockin out. Everyone had fun

This was my first punk bike and definitely not my last. Thanks to Maurice and the DR crew for putting it on and stashin all those kegs and carrying them around. Carol and Topher kept the tunes flowing from their backpacks all day. Carol also makes some pretty mean vegan cookies. Thanks to Elizabeth for taking awesome pictures. I stole a few for this blog since I have no camera skillz.

Punk Doggie
Scott Root

Carol Clemens

Danny Wilson

Joel Kennedy from IF
It was nice to talk about some bikes and meet another one of the people who support me and craft these excellent frames. He gre up 30 min away from where I did.

Checkin out the prize table

Kool Kids Table
The Chair

Timmy D's Leisure suit, probably the best male costume, and he won.

hunting, bikes, steep hills

2007-11-29T10:59:00.000-05:00

STEEP!!!
Photos courtesy of Brad Q.

I used to hunt. I've killed animals, I ate them too. I hope you don't turn me in to PETA, but I don't really care. I didn't go hunting this year, and wish I could ride my bike in the woods without getting shot. Oh well the two most dangerous weeks will be over soon. Remember to wear orange.

The State Gamelands system in PA needs to be re evaluated. I understand that they have laws against riding bicycles and organized events on the gamelands because many people and businesses were using the gamelands to turn some healthy profits without the game commission seeing any benefit while many of the users were causing erosion and harming the habitat that the animals live in. The Game Commission also answers to pretty much no one. What ever happened to checks and balances. I propose that some other agency at least keep a watch on erosion, land use issues and the natural resources on this land, it is not "technically" public but close to it. I won't say that the Game Commission has done a poor job of managing this land, but I do feel that they own a large chunk of land and that with PA trying to promote tourism and stimulate the economy with the over 1,429,605 acres of land as of 2004.

This is all makes sense, but why not open the land to more users, hunting licenses pay for the land, but what about all the land that was donated? There are fewer hunters every year, why not offer a pass for other people to use these lands legally?

It all comes down to the local game warden and I've never had a run in with ours, but those who have, don't have favorable things to say about him.

Reading:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cnrac/VernRossletterMar2702Proposed%20PA%20Game%20Commission%20Land%20Use%20Regulations%20Revisions.htm

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cnrac/rossletterNov2801finalPAGameComLandUse.htm

For those who don't appreciate the PA game commission here is a site for you: http://pgchallofshame.com/

PGC does pay taxes on this land and is trying to manage it, but why do it alone.
From the PA Game Commission Web site:

In fiscal year 2003, the Commission acquired 7,604 acres, bringing the total State Game Land acreage on which the agency pays in-lieu-of taxes to 1,429,605. The State Game Lands system now includes 302 tracts in 65 counties. Local government bodies received $1.20 per acre in-lieu-of taxes, as required by Act of May 17, 1929. During the fiscal year $1,715,526 was divided into three equal payments to the county, school district and township where State Game Lands are located.

Anyhow off of my soapbox.

Punk bike enduro this weekend. I didn't do this dirty dozen, I was worried about the 53 39 crankset and 11-23 cassette on my bike and all those big hills, I am not that much of a hardman when I am stuffing my face with turkey and pies on thanksgiving. I was also busy visiting family on Saturday. Check out Brad Q's photos from it.

Is winter coming this year?

2007-11-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

We are supposed to get some snow tomorrow in NW PA, but who knows, I has been cold and rainy and the days are short. Time for more night riding I guess.

Two events coming up soon, both of these are new to me and I have been wanting to do them, but it wasn't easy living in Utah.

Dirty Dozen

Punk Bike Enduro

I'm planning a trip to Colorado over winter break, so I just might show up on your doorstep if you live there.

Hence some nordic stoke...

Broken spokes and halloween

2007-11-01T20:01:00.000-04:00

Finally broke the old crossmax's lots of miles on them. The previous owner even took them dirt jumping. The spoke made an obnoxiously loud noise when it broke. Luckily I was able to go with rear brakes to get back. The eyelets have been cracked but now one is about to pull out.

Also just in time for Halloween or hunting season, whatever floats your boat. The new to me orange machine is together. Steel is so much nicer than aluminum.

Tentative NUE schedule for 08

2007-10-31T11:23:00.000-04:00

from www.usmtb100.com

Latest News

10/29/2007 - Tentative 2008 Schedule:

Cohutta 100 Tennessee April 19
Mohican MTB 100 Ohio June 7
Lumberjack 100 Michigan June 14
Breckenridge 100 Colorado July 19
Wilderness 101 Pennsylvania July 26
Fool’s Gold 100 Georgia August 16
Shenandoah 100 Virginia August 31
Tahoe-Sierra 100 California September 6

Looks like an interesting year. No more endurance one hundo so far. Breck close enought to the firecracker for those from outta town to hit both, but Breck and Wilderness 1 week apart? Mohican and Lumberjack also 1 week apart. Nice to see Fool's Gold and Tahoe Sierra on the list.

rothrock

2007-10-30T12:23:00.000-04:00

Mr. Cain soon to be Dr. came to town. We rode bikes. Sparky came with on his franken SS coaster brake machine. Thanks to Jordan and the guys at freeze thaw for lending Steve a bike.

Sparky by three bridges.

Steve 3 bridges, sorry for foggy lense

Me riding 3 bridges.

ridge trail

Steve crushin it.

sparkys rigid machine makes things blurry

greg rides.

obligatory old skool pic.

Chris Garrison

2007-10-19T13:58:00.000-04:00

Chris Garrison is an all around cool person. From wrenching on bikes, to helping with race support and cheering you on, to riding, or hangin at the bar. If you are a guy or a girl and get the chance to ride with her, make sure you don't pass it up.

Check out her 15 minutes of dirt rag fame.

weds at the rose

2007-10-18T12:01:00.001-04:00

Wish I was there

Zeus ready for 24 hours.

coolest poodle ever!

JP with the PBR feed.

Dirty Rockin out! Blinglespeed fury.

Thanks to Dirty for the pics.

Reading

2007-10-16T08:44:00.000-04:00

Adam Craig's sswc07 racereport
Harlan captured some artwork vegas style.

Ironcross 5 Results

Moab
Nat raced a Duo? Eatough wins. Jackmoromon militia wins. Pereira cheesetrain wins.

Days are getting shorter. Fall riding getting sweeter.

for those who forgot

2007-10-15T14:24:00.001-04:00

lifted from drunkcyclist and faia.

Month of Mud Finale

2007-10-14T23:39:00.000-04:00

The last race of the Month of Mud series in western, PA went off today. Lots of racers showed up and I was glad to make it, but somewhat bummed that I didn't make it to any of the other races in the series. Ironcross also went off today as well as the end of 24 hours of moab circus.

For those of you who have never raced in this series, it is just what racing should be. Relatively cheap entries, about a month long schedule of fun races, over $4000 cash payout over the series for everyone from expert to beginner, and lots of bike schwag, went to the top three in every category today at the overall awards. My only complaint is that the race today could have been 3-4 laps instead of the 2 laps for the experts, but maybe that was because I made quite a few mistakes on the first lap. The laps were relatively short at around 5 or 6 miles, but Moraine quite a rocky race course. The conditions couldn't have been any better though, nice weather, dry rocks and roots.

I was caught off guard at the start of the race when without warning the race director yelled. "GO!" The large field narrowed down quite quickly as we hit the singletrack. Then it was straight cruising as there was a conga line of racers and no room to pass until the course opened up.

The course opened up to a grassy road by the marina, and I passed a bunch of people only to loose my chain in one of the first rock sections and watch them all pass me back. From this point on, it seemed as though I had lost my rhythm, picking bad lines, shifting too late or too soon. I really wished I had a 29er SS for this race.

I finally settled in going into the second lap. Things came together and I passed quite a few people. Which felt good after being passed by everyone in the first lap. I was able to salvage the race to finish to 5th in expert. Results here.

Danny Wilson finished 3rd in the race and 3rd overall in the SS cat, his girlfriend Carrie beat out the competition in the final for an overall win in the W's Beginner class. Jordan Drayton from Freeze Thaw in state college won the SS overall for the series.

I guess I didn't miss the dirty dozen, only the dirtier dozen, so I have a road bike race to do before the end of the season then the punk bike. Two fun cycling events.

Look for some pictures from the awards to come.

fall break

2007-10-11T12:24:00.000-04:00

Greg and I went riding in State College and Clear Creek. People always ask me where I ride my bike after moving back from the west and to me it seems that there is just as much riding in PA. Lots of good stuff out my back door and many of the 4wheeler trails I don't ride too often are just as narrow as park city machine cut "singletrack." I've been exploring W. PA since I've come back and still haven't ridden lots trails.

The State college tour was great for me as I finally got to ride there and hit up most of the stuff from SSWC05 and some other trails. I'm excited to go back. The leaves were beautiful and it was 85 degrees in October. Wow.

For the second day of fall break we headed back to ride at Clear Creek. There we rode mostly trails we hadn't ridden before and discovered some awesome rock gardens. We also hit up the bear town rocks loop the river trail.

My camera wasn't functioning both days due to dead batteries the first day and I think it broke at clear creek. I hope it starts working again.

The Month of Mud finale is this Sunday at Moraine. I am planning on going to it. Hope lots of people show up.

Roots, Rocks, Ridges

2007-10-03T08:37:00.000-04:00

I went up to E ville for the Roots Rocks and Ridges race on Sunday that I had thought I missed this summer, but it turns out it had been postponed. Big Props to Dennis from the E ville Bike Shop for putting this bad boy on. I had done one of the previous incarnations of the RRR about three years ago on the SS, but this one had lots more singletrack, and of course more roots, rocks, and ridges. In fact there was barely any roads or doubletrack. For all those people who went up to Canada for the Squeezer, you missed out. Dennis also arranged a great after race meal and plenty of prizes to go around for everyone(literally!).

I didn't do too well in the race, though. The technical riding got to me and I lost lots of rhythm on after the city or rocks, pale ale, sections of trail. The leaves didn't help my efforts on the rocks and roots. Congrats to Pat Wallace for rocking out, and Mike Loranty. Maybe next year I'll be able to hang for longer. Anyhow I finished 8th overall, I think I'm winding down for the season. I have maybe one more in me.

Pictures

2007-09-26T20:41:00.000-04:00

Ricky and Jade came to visit on their pilgrimage back from Durango. I had to take a picture of the caravan and Ricky's newly acquired ride. This ride used to be Dicky Dub's. That little black spot you see on the road is a cat. They made the trip with 2 kittens and 2 dogs. The kittens used a litter box under the passenger's seat.

Some footage from a Labor Day group ride in Ellicottville

Some guy wrecks... a good laugh

Stay tuned for some pond jumpin action

Fall

2007-09-25T09:50:00.000-04:00

The first official day of Fall was Sunday, according to the astronomers and farmers almanac. I'd say they did a good job because the leaves here are really just starting to change.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons cause it is great for riding your bike and the leaves that fall on the trail are really nice to look at while riding. These leaves hide lots of the stuff you normally see: roots, rocks, sticks and make riding the same old trail a little more interesting. They are most fun when slippery and wet causing you to slide all over.

Also ALF is coming this next week in Clarion. It is quite a big "little" festival. I'm sure there will be lots of carnies, drunks, and other fun to partake in.

Anyhow got out for a ride yesterday on some of the Clarion trails built mostly by Bill Grove. These trails are constantly morphing as the forest is logged. Lot of the new ones that have popped up seem to be a little more fast and smooth and not so techy. I can't complain having great singletrack in my own back yard.

I guess I've been riding quite a bit cause my chains are all worn out. I figured the one on my new bike was close so I checked, it was stretched too much, my other geared bike, almost as bad. The road bike still has probably 1000 mi left cause I don't ride it enough.

The rest of the week is supposed to be rainy and with Roots, Rocks, Ridges coming up this weekend hopefully it won;t be too much of a downpour, although I kinda hope it rains before the race to add that layer of icing on the cake.

I keep planning on doing some of the Month of Mud series but can't seem to get motivated to go to any of them yet. With nice 30 mile romps through the woods of Ellicottville, its hard to for me to get excited about cross races on my mountain bike.

I'm also now considering hitting up the Race for Riddles because its a good cause and looks like a fun race.

Peanut Butter in my pedals

2007-09-20T09:54:00.000-04:00

New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Race

The Peanut Butter race was something I had always wanted to do growing up. New Bethlehem is about 30 minutes away from my house, making ofr an easy race to travel to. It always turned out that I had something else going on that weekend, a cross country (running) invitational, running race or something else. With my recent return to PA, this year I was sure not to miss it.

After waking up late, I thought I just might miss it. As I walked into the garage to load my bike in the car I realized that my brake lever had been squeezed by something while my front wheel wasn't in. Hurry up, take out wheel, take out pads, push pistons back, put pads and wheel back in, and hope everything is nice. Pump, pump, pump. Much better.

Off to the race, I arrived at registration just in time. I see more new faces, but no one I know. Lining up to the start line I meet, Brian, J Pok, Sean, and Gotch. Being the new kid on the block, there were stares all around.

The race starts and we form a peloton heading down the road, where the course turns into a cemetery. Half the lead pack misses the first turn, this is surely going to be a fun race! Down some steep hills, through people's back yards, into some strip mine cuts with big whoops. New Bethlehem isn't known for its mountain biking. Most people here call our bikes "pedal bikes" and assume when you say bike you really meant motorcycle. There was some excellent singletrack as well and lots of farm fields, logging roads, and fourwheeler paths.

Things started shaking out quickly, and I felt horrible. After having not done a race so short in a while, I was pretty worried as there isn't really much time to catch up. J-pok got away, then Sean passes. Now I'm in third. Gotch runs up the muddy hill faster than me. I caught myself thinking, "Shoulda changed tires for the mud, this isn't Utah anymore." As it shook out it was Brian Kenny and I, racing for 4th and 5th overall. The course was somewhat marked with small pieces of surveying tape and paint that had mostly washed away in the recent rain. He miss a turn, I would see the way to go and yell at him, I would do the same and he would yell at me. This pattern seemed to continue for a while until we hit a big downhill and both go off track, turned around found some markings, that looked like we had already been there, turned back to where we were lost and then realized that we hadn't been there and continued on. No way we were ever going to catch the leaders now and there was another guy with better course reading skills than us on our tail. I think we ditched him pretty fast though, as he was no where to be seen when I turned around.

The rest of the race was a series of mud bogs and 4wheeler trails with a steep climb though a grassy farmers field with that grass that makes you feel like your riding through molasses, we both get off and walk.

Back and forth, back and forth. I lead, Brian leads. This race is some serious fun. Racing is nowhere near as fun without good competition like this. I'm in the lead when I hear a big motor running. Are we going to come head on with a 4wheeler? It turns out the race is routed though an old tunnel littered with rocks and a creek passing though it and these guys had set up a generator and a set of lights so the racers could see. This was easily one of the best parts of the race. After this we ride some more fields, trails and road sections until we get spit out in the town. The sprint starts and I'm in the lead. Where is the finish? A bunch of people cheering it must be here. Oh wait, its around the corner. Brian takes the inside and outsprints me.

It turns out J-pok has excellent tracking skills and never got lost, rode the whole course with his mud boggers and big wheels and made the rest of us all look like nancies.

After the race had ended I must have stepped in some peanut butter cause it was all through my pedal. Gotch though it was dog crap, but a sniff test pointed to PB. Thanks to Ergon, everyone wanted to feel up my grips, but I don't blame them.

Awards went off and it turns out I got 1st in my age group. Not too bad. Every racer got a free jar of Smuckers peanut butter and if you got on the podium and hug from the Peanut Butter Queen! If you like PB they had cases for sale, I don't think I could take on a case by myself, but Gotch and his crew bought two. Sweet deal 12 cans for $24, Organic, chunky, goober, whatever you want they got it.

Thanks to New Bethlehem for keeping this this going for 12 years, IF, Giro, Ergon, Mavic, Hutchinson, and anyone else I might have forgot.

Results here.

12 Hours of Ole Bull/Midnight Madness

2007-09-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

Ole Bull Midnight Madness

This summer being one of firsts for me I decided to do a 12 hour race. I mostly decided to do this race because I grew up going on a weekly fishing trip at the state park where it is held. People call it God's Country because there is nothing around, the air is clean and the water still pure, there are some pretty big hills too. This area of the county consists of a few gas stations, campgrounds, and a bunch of camps. I used to go fishing with my friend Curt here and we would ride our bikes on the trails and backroads around the park. Potter County, PA has a bunch of blue ribbon trout streams. We would usually wake up in the morning and hit a blue winged olive hatch and the come back ride bikes and eat. Then head back out at night for the evening hatch.

I hoped to have time for fishing in this visit, but with 12 hours of bike riding, it turned out I was too tired to do any.

I drove up to Ole Bull State Park on Friday night and got there late with just enough time to preride the course. By just enough time I mean catching the sunset on during the first quarter of the course and finishing in the dark. The course was about 12 miles long, mostly gravel roads and not too many flat sections. You were either going up or going down.

I cooked a big bowl of pasta on my stove and met the guys at the neighboring campground. At first I thought they were racing but they told me that they were just up for some riding in the area. They were cool enough to show me some bike videos on their portable dvd player and chat for a while wishing me luck in the race.

Fast forward to raceday: I woke up late and spent tons of time trying to prepare my milk crates of food, extra clothes, and water bottles. My parents graciously agreed to come later in the day with more food and support me by refilling my bottles and lubing my chain and all that good stuff. Moving back from Utah and Colorado has been different as I haven't known many people at races. I met some of my competition and chatted with them over breakfast and registration. Then I made the rush to get all my stuff together and position my bike for the Lemans start.

The first few laps of the race course were fast and fun. There were some eager team guys. One older dude on a touring bike with a super steep head tube angle, and another guy who I thought was in my class, Aaron Snyder.

Things thinned out and it was Aaron and I for the first 3 laps or so with him leading most of the time and me about 20 yards back. I passed him a few times, but every time he launched himself back in front of me. He seemed to be not stopping to eat or anything between laps and having never done a race this long I was taking my time in between laps making sure I ate and got plenty of fluids.

Slowly but surely he got away from me and my only hope was to either bust a real fast lap or if he stopped for a longer amount of time in between laps.

Well I kept getting slower and he kept getting slower but continued to crank out sub hour laps while mine were around 1:05 or so. I figured I had second to him, until my parents found out that there was in fact an open category when I had asked about one and was told to check one of the boxes. I don't know how you sign up for Open unless you write it in or something, not that it was a big deal, but I guess it was new this year or something. Anyhow I was now leading my category and although I was still hoping to close some of the gap on Aaron, it wasn't happening.

The climbs seemed to get tougher every lap and I felt pretty inconsistent. I saw Michelle Scheider, who I had just met before the race, on the course several times and she would cheer me on which helped to keep me going. There were plenty of other people cheering for me as well which really helped. The volunteers handing cups of water were really awesome to see on the course and they would cheer. Around 6:00 the one aid station was handing out watermelon slices, which tasted oh so good.

Back to the grindstone lap after lap. The course became a lull with those several painful climbs over and over. The sun set and I came through the start finish and put on my lights to go back out for another few. I was planning on trying to hit about 10 laps for the 12 hours at this time. This race is a little different than many endurance "as many laps as you can formats" in that you had to be back in by midnight for the lap that you just did to count. No coming in 10 min before midnight and going out to spin another lap.

My ninth lap was not like any bike riding I had done before. It reminded me of driving in the middle of the night when the lines on the road become a blur and you start to nod off causing you to pull over. I was seriously afraid that I would fall asleep on one of the descents and just fall over. I'm not sure how physically possible this was, but the ninth ended up being my last lap as no one else was close to catching me. I wanted to try to go out for another, but I knew I couldn't catch Aaron who ended up spinning 11 laps, but saw no use in putting myself deeper into hurt and adding that much more time to my recovery. I contemplated another laying in the wet grass trying to sleep so I would be more alert, but ended up calling it a day. 9 laps in 10:03 and I was done.

I ended up 2nd overall and 1st in the Men Senior Category 19-32 or something like that. Results here.

Tired at the awards ceremony.

101 Miles of Fun

2007-09-18T09:36:00.000-04:00

Sorry I stink at the art of blogging and all the late reports. I'm tryin to catch up though so watch out here come the bloggin marathon.

The Wilderness 101 was my first 100 miler and surely not my last. It is easy to see why people get hooked on these things. You get to ride "ALL DAY," and not just ride, but see some awesome stuff, ride with some cool people, ride prime PA singletrack, then if you are like Ramponi, party all night.
Coming into the race after a week of not riding and moving back from Utah, I didn't have the taper down or whatever people that read Joe Friel's book call it that I would have liked. I was also used to blistering 100 degree temps, but not the thick PA humidity.
I traveled to the race with the other two Shippenville riding hoodlums, the Cain brothers. Steve was racing his New Pinkie, and Greg was helping sweep the course cleaning up riders that didn't make it, pulling down course markings and being a nice guy.

I met up with Greg Montello to pickup and needed new Giro Atmos helmet in the morning. THe old Rudy turtleshell I had was beat and needed replacing. I was really glad to have a new helmet that had so many more vent than my old one.

The race started with an easy rolling start that soon broke into small pacelines for the first paved section. The humid air was cool and it felt good to roll fast on the paved and gravel roads. I was putting forth an effort to just hang in a pack because I had been told that the first 50-60 miles are quite easy compared to the singletrack climbs in the last 40 or so. I ended up in a group with Peter Buckland, and another guy that traveled down with the IF/Seven posse from Boston. We ended up pulling most of the time. It was here that I met Ramponi for the first time with his thick accent and singlespeed with matching paintjob. I also saw Tom Parsons auring this section of the race and he called me a young'un or something as he pulled away from me on his SS.

The first singletrack was a surprise after all of those road miles. I hadn't riddin any PA trails for a while with ferns and grass that hang over it so only allowing you to see a 4" swatch of trail. Then came a blazing fast downhill. I had a small lead on some of the guys from the earlier paceline but blew it when my freewheel didn't want to spin as fast as I was going and my chain spooled off the big ring and got all tangled up. I watched everyone go by, but I wasn't worried cause I still had a long way to go. This ended up working out because shortly after putting my chain back on I came upon Josh Tostado who had 3 flats already and only two tubes. I was able to give him a tube and some air to keep going. He had traveled all the way from Breck to race, so I was glad to help him out. Josh caught me on a gravel road right before station 2 and gave my inflator back and pulled me into the aid station much faster than I could have ridden myself. Thanks Josh! He also gave me a tube at the station and I was off again. Everyone's spirits were still high at this point.
I headed out from Station 2 for a long ride mostly alone and with some chatting with Tim. Aid station 3 came up and I really had to go. I was hoping they would have some porta johns like at 2 but no dice. When I got off my bike here I had kinda bonked and my legs were crampy. I actually had someone hand me their bike to hold up and forgot whose it was. I saw Peter Buckland again who was having problems with his brakes. One of the levers came out too far and was sticking straight out perpendicular to his bars. He was able to get it held back in closer with some wire or something I think.
The ride up Sassafra was really tiring at this point. I had to stop to drop some weith in the woods fast. Back on the bike, the loamy leaves roots and pine needles felt slow compared to the hardpacked dirt and dust of the west. At the top of the climb there was a rippin DH which was a nice break. Then some more up down gravel roads, paved roads, PA woods. I caught back up to Buckland again as I was kinda yo yo ing with him the whole race. Just after I passed him a stick got caught in my spokes and sent me over the bars. He passed me and about a minute later some stick or something mangled his derailleur and hanger. I tried to give him a chain tool, but he said his borrowed bike was broken. He usually rides a Ti Deluxe SS, but broke that too and it was back being fixed. This was the best part of the race with lots of singletrack littered with rockgardens, roots, bridges, and lots of other fun stuff. Aid 4 was getting close. I finally rolled in, fueled up and enjoyed the shade while I tried to tell Jimbo what had happened and explain who Peter was before I knew his name. He lubed up my dry and noisy chain. I saw Whittingham as well, who was having an awesome race when his seatpost snapped off in his frame. At first I thought it was Greg Montello in my incoherent state, but them realized it wasn't him. 24 miles or so till the finish I was told.

This section was the hardest for me. My hands didn't want to hold on anymore and it seemed they felt every logging road descent. There was one descent in particular that was quite steep, but so rocky that you had to pedal and pick lots of lines. After that the ride was pretty much gravy. Flowing singletrack and one last big climb which I felt surprisingly great on. Into the final stretch cruising along the rail trail and the last leg of techy singletrack along the creek felt great and it was truly a beautiful day for a long ride. Rolling into Coburn Park felt great too as I knew I was done and could relax and rinse off in the "High Bacteria count" creek nearby. The food was also most excellent!

I got the results from Harlan, Tostado and the gang and found out that Josh battled back to and amazing 8th considering the flats and Harlan busted out a 2nd to Bishop. Both Harlan and Bishop crushed old course records.

I relaxed and waited for Steve to roll in, but heard he was slummin it with a personal longest ride of 13:30 or something.

Thanks to all the volunteers that made this race possible, Chris Scott and his crew, the Mt. Nittany Wheelworks gang, IF, Hutchinson, Giro, King, Mavic, Shimano, WTB, and anyone else I may have forgot.

Snowbird

2007-08-11T10:55:00.000-04:00

7.14.2007 20^th Annual Snowbird Mountain bout Intermountain Cup #10

This was a really steep course that was also kinda set up backwards. Singletrack climbs and resort service road descents in 3 inches of fresh gravel. Its been this way for 20 years, time to change in my opinion. As a result there weren’t as many out of this race as I had expected will small fields all across the board.

I finished out the day in 8^th after not riding well at all and having to pass everyone they put on this short course at the same time. It’s not good to see sport riders coming up in the sport getting run off the course by experts and pros. Maybe that’s why there aren’t as many people racing for fun in Utah. It was still really hot up at 9,000 feet but the some of the shaded singletrack sections had some rhythm and left a grin on my face. Congrats to Titus riders Kathy Sherwin and Alex Grant for taking home the big W’s of the day.

Fourth of July: Firecracker 50

2007-08-11T10:16:00.000-04:00

7.4.2007 Firecracker 50

Well I guess you could say the firecracker 50 cracked me. 50 miles and about 11,000 feet of climbing didn’t sound so bad on Main Street in Breckenridge when there are a bunch of people cheering you on for the fourth of July. I had missed this race last year when I spent the summer in Colorado and had vowed to do it this year, but just to top it off USA cycling or NORBA or whoever decided to make it the National Marathon Championships. My response to that is that it is an awesome race, just that it might not be the right race for a Marathon National Championship. If you look at the results most of the 600 racers are from Colorado. Now wonder it is hard to breathe when you start at 9,000 feet and go up from there. Any other National Championship event seems to have a more diverse group of racers, I wonder why. Harlan made the trip from PA and Calgiano decided the 25 was more his style and did a duo.

The Firecracker has a unique start as the racers kick off the beginning of the fourth of July Parade in Breckenridge. You feel like you are competing in the Olympics or the Tour de France with the streets lined with people cheering you on. It is that cool. Then the pain begins.

I raced the Open 19-29 category, in the attempt to bring home the stars and stripes. Our group started with the Open 30-39 as well and about a minute behind the Pros.

The course was well designed with a long gradual climb to start the race and sort things out. I was really feeling good and passing people. Things then turned to singletrack with some puddles, creek crossings and ample places to pass. Things went south from there with a rippin, like 10% + grade, downhill on a doubletrack littered with baby head sized rocks and a few roots. This spits you out to and aid station and some other trails and then up the killer climb of the race up to Little French Creek. I think this climb is like + 16% or close to that I might be exaggerating, but it hurt bad.

After the creek crossing it was onto some rolling and rocky singletrack that was cut into the side of the super steep mountain. It seems that the sigletrack was once a pipeline because there was a piece of old flattened pipe that some guy in front of me peel out on and wrecked after his wet tires hit it from the creek crossing. The nails from the remains also got Nat Ross when one punctured both his tire and tubeless rimstrip.

The rest of the course was full of sweet Colorado style singletrack and double track climbs and descents. At the end of the first lap I was hot, tired, and while I was “seein robots” I somehow missed an arrow for a sharp right turn after there were four arrows pointing downhill. I was sure this was a game over and that I would end up on some backcountry trails lost deep within Summit County. Then some orange surveyors tape started to appear on trees along the trail and I thought “maybe not all hope is lost.” It turns out that the trail led me back onto course and when I told the course marshal I had been lost he said, “Well you’re back on track now.” I think I took a “long” cut, but it was nice to have some deviation between the two laps.

The second lap was pretty slow and uneventful for me as this was the first 50 miler I had ever done and to be honest I bonked a little even though it seemed like I ate Gu’s and Clif Bloks constantly. Jordan Kahlenberg who now races with Rocky Mountain Racing but is a transplant from State College pushed me along while he was poaching the second lap after feeding his friend. Then I slowed down to get a feed and couldn’t catch him again. I then got some of my best motivation from Harlan’s sister, whom I didn’t meet until the end of the race. She saw my colors and cheered me on. She also flew out just to cheer on, feed, and support Harlan!! What a sister, thanks Nicole!

After that it I was “seein robots” again and breathing harder than a dog in heat for the rest of the race. When it was all over I was congratulated by several people and saw some of my old friends from Colorado. Local fast dude Mike Hogan got 2ndto Tinker, by less than 1 minute. His wife won because Sharon isn’t an American, Harlan got 8^th, Paul Clark finished 4^th in the 19-29 open and Kate won the 19-29 women open. I ended up in 10^th in the 19-29 open. If I would have kept my split from the first lap, I would have finished around 4:10 rather than 4:35. That’s something I gotta work on. I can’t complain about a 10^th place finish at nationals but then again I didn’t have anything to celebrate about either.

Norba Racing

2007-08-11T09:55:00.000-04:00

Deer Valley Norba National 6.15-17.2007

Friday Cross country

This was my first Norba National Race and having somewhat practiced for it, I felt ok going into it. It was nice to see a familiar face from CO, Jan Koles, at registration. My parents were out to visit for vacation and their first time watching me race.

Friday’s XC started with a bigger field than I have been used to this season with almost 70 racers, call-ups and all. Not me I was at the back of the pack for the start with Larry Longo, who quit the race after the first lap to announce. We might have been the youngest and oldest racers in the Semi Pro class. I also saw some of my other friends at the start line: Blake, fellow IF racer Dylan Stucki, and the RMR crew.

The race was off to a slow start with everyone bunching up, crashing and getting off of their bikes for the first lap. I’m don’t despise Norba as many do, but please do a parade lap or something to break things up before hitting a hairpin singletrack turn in the first quarter mile of the race.

The rest of the race was long and hot in 90 deg weather without a cloud in the sky. It seemed like I was passing as many people as I could on some of the wider downhills and climbs until I blew up between laps 3 and 4 letting quite a few others pass me. I was able to salvage a middle of the pack finish though. Overall it was awesome to have my parents and sister out supporting me. Race results are here.

Sunday Short Track

The weather for the short track was much cooler and the field of racers smaller. Short track is always fun as you can get a good warm up in on the course and talk to a bunch of friends and racers before and after the race. Sly Fox aka beevis aka Primetime blew up his fork before the race and had to borrow Chris Sherwin's Yeti. This was probably the fastest short track I have ever raced and my goals went from doing well to just staying in the race. I was in it for a while when they pulled me and another racer with over half a lap gap between us and the leaders. Another mid pack finish to round out the weekend. Results here.

Thanks again to Independent Fabrication, Hutchinson, Mavic, Shimano, Ergon, Chris King, WTB and anyone else I might have missed.

Deer Valley Take 1

2007-08-11T09:04:00.000-04:00

Deer Valley Intermountain Cup #7 6.12.2007

This is the practice race for the upcoming Norba next week. There were 30 Pro Men racers in the field today, which was a pretty big field for the intermountain cup. I think they said at the start that it was the biggest ever! Anyhow there were two guys from Japan racing in the pro class trying to get ready for the Deer Valley Norba next week.

The race was going alright until I started having some problems with my rear tire and had to stop to pump it up letting everyone pass me. I was able to come back to pass a few more guys and one of the ones from Japan, who later quit. The trails were nice and tacky, which would be normal soil anywhere else.

Warming up and slowing down for one of the many switchbacks.

The bike still felt great. Thanks to IF for the awesome ride!

Sundance and dust

2007-07-18T19:20:00.000-04:00

Sundance Spin Intermountain Cup #6 Sundance Resort, UT 6.2.2007

I don’t remember too much about this race except that I felt horrible and didn’t finish well. It was also super dusty. I think there was more powder on the trails this summer in dust than there was powder snow last winter at Sundance. I had new clothes and at least looked fast.

Greg Cain and Jen Minich were on the western states supertour in Jen's new FJ Crusher. Greg had never been skiing in June so after such a lousy race it felt good to get up to Alta and do some skiing in Devils Castle.

Me hiking up Devils Castle
Greg rippin the berms on Bobsled.
Jen and I getting ready to put our boots on by Ballroom

Greg skiing

Flat Tires

2007-07-18T12:43:00.000-04:00

Five Mile Pass, Intermountain Cup #3 5.5.2007

Five Mile Pass is my first mountain bike race of the season and my first race in a truly open category racing against local fast dudes Bart Gillepsie, Jason Sager, and Chucky Gibson. Five Mile Pass is frequented by people on four-wheelers and dirt bikes and has some singletrack but mostly fireroads and is quite barren as it is in the middle of the desert. This race was also quite long for my first race of the season, 43 miles.

I awoke to 40 degree temperatures as well as sleet and rain in the morning. It had been 75 degrees and sunny yesterday, how the weather changes. As I tried to warm up in my Nordic ski clothes a few snow flurries graced my face. At the start thing things didn’t seem so bad. Bart shot off like a rocket and was gone on this windy and cold course where drafting was nice. I was jockeying in about 6^th position for a while and had some people run by me on the mandatory hike-a-bike, but felt strong and started to pass them back. I ripped the dh as Sly Fox would say, and continues to pass some people during the second lap. Just as I stated to feel good, I heard the sound of an instant flat in my rear tire. The bead and the tire on my tubeless tire had split. So I started to put a tube in getting stan’s spooge all over my already cold hands and when I went to use my big air, it didn’t work. I tried again and again. I finally realized the nozzle part, which I had never used before, was defective. Great. After about 20 minutes of standing in the cold shivering and asking people for air, some nice lady from Utahmountainbiking.com gave me a pump and I was back on my way. I had all intentions to ride back and quit the race. Then I decided, why not finish the race and see what happens, after all I did pay and I’m not one to quit. So 2 ½ laps to go cold miserable laps. Well it was good training and I almost beat a guy but he decided to quit on the fourth lap just as I passes him before the lap zone. There are some days when just finishing is an accomplishment.

2007-07-18T12:32:00.000-04:00

Lava Rama Lava Hot Springs, ID 5.12.2207

picture taken from http://www.aurasomalava.com/blog

One neat thing about spending the summer in Utah is that all of the races in this area are new to me. This makes the courses fun and interesting, but there are also lots of racers who have raced the same course 10 years in a row and that seems to give them a slight advantage. Race promoters in the intermountain area seem somewhat hesitant to change race courses. For some reason this baffles me, but doesn’t matter because I’ve never raced any of them before.

I arrived in Pocatello on Friday night and dropped my friends Heather and Suda who graciously provided me a place to stay at the Holmes Hotel for the weekend. Their brother, John Holmes, was graduating from Pharmacy School and they had invited me to stay at their house, race and celebrate John’s graduation. Some of you may be laughing that his name is John Holmes but this guy is more of a brainiac than a pornstar.

As I drove to Lava Hot Springs, I was excited to see that this race was in an extremely small and even quaint town rather than many of the huge races at ski resorts. Finding the course wasn’t so easy. I spotted two racers and introduced myself to them. Nate and Amanda are from Victor, ID which is just over Teton Pass from Jackson, WY and they weren’t quite sure where the course went either. I found the town park and talked to one of the race promoters who told me that only the short lap had been marked. I found the short loop ended up really being about a third of the big loop and rode it. I was surprised to see that the course was mostly singletrack but the singletrack was made by grazing cows rather than bikes, hikers, or horses. Cows tend to make good tight, twisty singletrack, though. A half hour pre-ride just didn’t seem right, so after jumping a barbed wire fence to get out of the cow pasture at the end of the loop, I headed out for another. This time I met up with Nate and Amanda and a guy, Paz, who was given a “Fisher Price” map and told to go mark the course. The long loop took us significantly longer as we got lost a few ties and had to dodge cow droppings and yell like coyboys on bikes to get these cows to move. This was quite interesting to me as the only race I had ever done with cows in the way was a road race in Fruita where two cows on the road cause the whole peloton to stop. Now I felt like a cowboy of the olden days on my new steel horse, an Indy Fab Deluxe. The long loop had two big climbs and long cow path dh and an a tricky full on skidder with logs as steps at the end.

Fast forward to race day. The race went off with a start down main street and a not so “neutral” start. Things split up a little on the first big climb. I was feeling good, but not as good as the 5 or so ahead of me, but I was reelin them in. Just as we got to the top of the climb by the cows, the leader came by me going down yelling, “Were does it go.” Those of us that had preridden the course showed him, but man was he mad. The first lap went well and I was feeling solid, but the second laps climb was another story.

I continued to reel people in but there was one guy who came flying by me on the climb, but I couldn’t stay with him. At the top I could almost see the whole field except for the guys in first and second place. The race continued and I came up to some roadie to proclaimed himself one as he nearly went down before I could get a chance to pass him on the downhill. Roadies aren’t just garbage bag sized lungs and huge quads though they are always thinking about the bigger picture and this roadie mustered up enough strength to cut me off before the steep staircase section at the end of the race taking a route through the high grass that I hadn’t seen before and outsprinted me for 6^th place at the finish. We everyone had flecks of cow dung on their bikes and kits but we all had grins on our faces too. Even though I had been beat at the end and took 7^th I still felt like I had raced well and will think more like a roadie next time.

2007-07-17T19:11:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted any pictures of my new ride yet. Well here she is. Full 2007 XTR, Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels, oury lockin soon to be switched for Ergons, and the flite has been switched for a WTB Shadow V slt that my butt likes much more, and some Hutchinson Python tubeless tires.

The heart and soul of it a 2007 Indy Fab custom steel deluxe frame with a sterling silver head badge and the team paint job.

2007-04-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

Bell Lap

2007-04-24T11:10:00.000-04:00

School has been winding down to a stressful end and and I find myself here typing crap on this blog.

The last day at Alta was on Sunday. I haven't been skiing for a long time but I felt the need to go and dress up anyhow. It was a good time and I saw lots of people that I know. Good to see Hunter made it up on the Alta site. It was really cold. I had to wear a jumpsuit over my bright ski racer suit.

The weather in SLC has been good. Shoreline is riding well. Some friends tried to ride pipeline on Saturday and they said it was a little muddy still. Not rutty or anything, their downtubes just had lots of mud on them. Hopefully PC will drying up soon.

The new frame is here. Now I just need some parts. I think they are in the mail though. Jill surprised me with the paint. It really is a work of art. I just can't wait to get on it.

Mesa State is hosting the Collegiate Conference Champs this weekend. I'm thinking about going. Not quite sure yet. Fontana next weekend if I can get a ride or a one way ticket. I'm a little hesitant about having a NORBA be my first race of the season. Oh well I guess if I make it there I'll have to step up to bat.

Arty the one man party wrecks

2007-04-12T13:43:00.000-04:00

Sunday's PC ride ended with a bang. A SID explosion. The SID on my SS was the former fork of Dan Wilson.I guess the BUSS is now getting the coil and oil marathon I've been holdin out on it. She will be happy.

My roommate, Arty the One Man Party, wrecked his bike last night on a late night grocery run. Arty isn't much of a cyclist and mainly used his bike for transpo. He claims he broke both of his arms. We 'll see.

Night ride on the shoreline is in order for tonight. Then some Jibskating at Solitude this weekend.

Easter Riding

2007-04-10T16:22:00.000-04:00

Hell of the North went alright this past weekend. Finished 4th in the B's. Not too shabby for a mountain biker on a dead flat course. There was a hillclimb up East Canyon on easter morning. I wasn't planning on doing it. I finished 3rd in B's. Some guy that droped out of the road race the day before and had fresh legs won it. Mitchell won the A's... after getting dropped!

Sunday's cooldown was a 3 hour ride on the single speed in PC. We rode some new trail. They are still building roads to the top of the mountains for multi million dolla second homes and stuff in PC. When will they learn.

2007-04-04T14:16:00.000-04:00

Hell of the north this weekend. Shoreline has been riding well. Went out with the masses last night for the afterwork rush hour. Ended up being a slow leg busting ride on the SS. We'll see how I fare on such a flat course this weekend. www.hellofthenorth.com

2007-03-27T12:12:00.000-04:00

Oh yeah and winter is over.

blog blog blog

2007-03-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

Well after reading lots of other peoples blogs, I finally got one of my own. Now I can spew all over the interweb when I'm not in school or riding my bike. Hopefully I'll add some pictures or something in the next few days. Things are looking a little sparse right now.