Wet Ride Today

But nothing like those guys over in Orono... check the pictures at Skinnyski! Bill looks pretty muddy! I love the loop out of my brother in laws, plenty of climbing and very pretty. It is the Square Lake Road Race circuit. I even love it when it is pouring! (+6)

My Favorite Rider

I got to ride with my favorite rider today! Belinda and I did the Tator Tour together. Belinda and I have logged many miles together and it was nice to ride with her again. The Tator Tour was great and the baked potato at the end was wonderful. Thanks for a great ride B!

Don't read this...

just watch the movie in the last post. This is just a journal entry for me. Rode by myself last night to a staff party, no not a stag party, a staff party. Road back and the moon was incredible. I think I might like riding through the park at night but I scare easy... seriously, my imagination runs wild.

Bike and Ski 06-07

I am experimenting with movies...

Ramsey Du Huez

Andy says it all! It is very cool with coffee and lemonade close by!!

Headwaters Weekend!

We had a great time at the Rainbow Resort this weekend! On Friday we met up at the Resort with enough daylight to go riding out on the Mountain Bike trails and scout out the course for Sunday's race. After that Carol and Holly made us an incredible pasta meal that was a perfect pre race meal. After that there was a heavy duty strategy session with code words and mile markers. For anyone who has raced they know these plans don't usually work out but it is a great way to take care of some of the jitters.

On Saturday we got up and mixed our bottles of Perpetuum... one smell of the stuff and it takes me right back to RAAM. Our first adventure was my gas light coming on as we were leaving the
resort. 40 miles later and a lot of cheering on the car, we made it to Park Rapids running on fumes. It was close! When I filled up my 20 gallon tank the pump showed that I had put in 20.4 gallons.

Off to the races! We had quite a showing in the race! If you look at the results there will be a lot of familiar names! It is nice to be at the start and to know a fifth of the field! Two bottles in my pockets and two on the bike and some snickers to boot. The weather was perfect! Short sleeve jersey and shorts at Headwaters!

We left town as a bunch and it was fun to be back in the pack. We had people that were racing for the first time and they said that the start was thrilling and I would have to agree, it is pretty exciting. We had a strategy that we were going to attack at mile marker 44. So I worked my way to the front and pushed the pace up... they forgot to tell me they called off that plan. So I am waiting for a long line of my teammates to storm around me, not to be. We all cramped. John was unbelievable as he pulled up front for hours. I sat in the back and tried to stretch out.
I was cramping early in the race. I was also riding sick, and oh, the sun was in my eyes. Near the end I was covering breakaways to insure that we stayed close to the leaders but there were already 6 up the road. It was a weird race in the sense that we had the chance to close for a
long time but no one was willing to get organized and not even John can do that alone. The bunch came in like we always do, storming down to the school in a free for all. Steve and Dave G. stayed with us all the way, very impressive! Melinda got second and Madonna got third in the Women's race. Third place trophy in her first race! Way to go! Paul S. completed his first
race. Another way to go. Holly took the wrong turn that DaveHoglund took two years ago and finished back but really would have gotten third in the race if it wasn't for the mystery corner. The Sayler family rode the tour and had a great time! Diane Hemstad rode her first century too! Way to go! Everyone did great!

Saturday night we had presentations on RAAM and that crazy Iowa ride. I might do it next year, it looks fun! Then we drank a truck load of lemonade and got a little silly, went to bed at 3.

Sunday we had a great breakfast and it was time for the mountain bike race/ running races at Rainbow Resort. Amy is awesome and staying at Rainbow really makes the weekend special. The race course was tough but I didn't throw up... there were bets being made on that. John once again proved that he is the manliest man I have ever met by riding the mountain bike race on his road bike and kicking my rear, the guy is unbelievable!! Thanks Bernie for believing in me and waiting for me! Dave Hoglund waited for everyone and won the race in a bunch sprint. Nice trophy!

Holy crap!! How could I space this!? Jorge also won a beautiful trophy as did Melinda and Cindy! Jorge set a course record on the run as he dropped the field and left them wondering what he had for breakfast. How could I forget that? Great job Jorge and I love you too!

After that we had a great lunch and we had the award presentation and door prizes brought in my Larry and Pam from Trailhead! Thank You! That was really fun! It was simply a wonderful weekend!

Bronchitis

Twice a year on the change of seasons I get bronchitis. Just before headwaters I feel like someone hit me in the throat. I am still going up but I will have to see how I feel Saturday morning. Not feeling so good right now. That may be why I was so quick to judge Cat 1 Eric... I should just keep my mouth shut. Sorry for abusing the e mail like that everybody! The more the merrier! I don't care what you're selling as long as it is good!

The Rotach Rain Ride

I went for another rain ride with John. Bernie joined us for a while but had a mechanical. Dave Hemstad scared me by sneaking up behind me at an intersection and grabbing my wheel. I had never experienced a rubbing brake like that before. Pleasant ride.

I like to watch

What a difference a year makes!

I would have to rank today as one of my top 50 days of my life. Mike B. and I rode from Telmark down to Hayward and followed the Fat Tire all the way back to Cable. It was very fun. We met up with Dave Hoglund, which made it even better. What a great and beautiful ride.

Everyone seemed to have a great ride. Jay T. was as consistent
as ever and Team Thompson did great. Andy was the big surprise. He beat
three hours by a half of a minute on his single speed rigid bike. WOW!
That is simply incredible. Way to go! The three Amigos did great. Kenny
beat his personal best and I think that Bob did too. Larry S. had fun
with the short and fat. Brian E. shared a beer with us afterwards.
Thanks Mike and Dave for all the beer! Thanks to Luke for getting me a
brat too! Lots of the Loons were there and it was fun to cheer them on.


The Fat Tire is quite the spectacle and it was fun to see it as a spectator! I think I have found a new way to enjoy this race.

Oh, and at the finish I believe we witnessed something like a man walking on the moon. A single speed won the Fat Tire. People hear people say they can't do things their whole life... be careful who you say that to, they might just blow you away!

End of Season

Everyone is amped for racing. The Fat Tire 40 is this weekend, good luck to all! And then next week we have the Headwaters and Rainbow Resort double. That is always a blast!

Tonight we had about 7 or eight. It was a fun ride. Melinda wanted to work so we humored her. It was fun. It reminded me of when we scratch raced out of Fletcher. That was kind of fun. Yes, I know I am a big hypocrit, but I have no problem with people creaming each other if it is advertised as a race. People simply need to know what they are getting into. The group tonight knew that there was no slowing down Melinda, she had the fever for the flavor of a pringle. I rode with Amy and talked RAAM. They are going to do it first class. If you can in any way be a part of that team I would jump on it!

Very Simple

Rode around in the dark for an hour by myself. It was nice.


No! No! Umm that probably wasn't bike bloggy enough. Here goes...

Me me me hammering, me me me me me me me me me dancing on the pedals, me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me twisting, me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me pulling, me me me me me me me me me totally wasted!

An Honest to Goodness Group Ride

We did it! We had a legitimate group ride today and it was great! The group stayed together for the entire 144 this morning. The group even waited for me when I dropped my mirror. Thanks for getting my glasses Erik!

At the beginning of the season Jay T. mentioned that the key to group rides is awareness. Today the entire group was totally aware of the group. The front rider was never 20 senconds ahead of the last rider. That is very cool. It makes for a very social and fun ride. Oh, and we had the same average we always do. HA!

We went to Dunn Brothers... together! WOW! Then I got talked into riding to Hopkins and I am so glad that I did... When I do the dishes my wife lets me ride longer. Just kidding. I love my wife for letting me play every Saturday morning. We played name that tune for the rest of the ride. I thought it was very funny. Mike got in to the act and it only got better. I think that we may have developed a new tradition. We were literally dancing on the pedals! Thank you all for a fantastic morning of riding!

Elm Creek part 26

We rode in the park again tonight. The World Championship course. The park is tough. The consistent roll to the park keeps you working and all the turns keep you on your toes.

We had 8 and it didn't take long to split up. Getting dropped doesn't feel as bad in the park because you can't see the gap so you don't feel the pressure of catching and you can just chat with those around you. After a while Jay T. and I tried to bridge the gap and we were working through the park, all out. It occured to me as we exchanged pulls that he is on his single speed road bike and I am giving it everything I have... How does he do that? We went around enough corners and couldn't see Melinda or Dave and finally sat up. Larry S. worked to catch as well but the speedsters were long gone. I love the park.

Post from Belinda

OK, so Neil comes home and says, "That was a great ride." For the 500,000th time. Man, when isn't there a great ride? Like when he shows me pictures from a race and says, "Isn't that shot great?" And I say, "It sure looks like the 200 other pictures you have shown me like that." I am glad that he likes his riding but for crying out loud, it is like a broken record. Hey you blog readers eat your hearts out, I need Neil to do the dishes now.

Kenny S.

Another name in the long list of riders gaining strength and riding strong. Today Kenny looked GREAT. Bob D. is going to do great at the Fat Tire 40! He is as solid as ever. I finished up with my wife and my brother in law riding around Stillwater. I ended up with 100. Beautiful day for a ride. Tom I hope you are ok! Sorry for pouting at the start of the ride... I think it was all the beer and fair food.