2012 is about to be gone, so I'll catch up on the final races of the season. Beginning in October I did my first cross race of the year, and my second ever on a cross bike. Somewhat new experience, but really meshes well with Mountain since we are on the dirt. I just fit right in, started competing for the front of the race pretty quick. Was on a borrowed bike and had a few issues with dropped chains and odd positioning/setup for my preferences. Even with a few problems I was blown away by how much I enjoyed the race. I was so pumped up and excited afterwards somehow I find myself finding a new Cross bike sponsor. Bike pics to come soon.
Then it was onto a double header weekend that was the muddiest sloppiest weekend ever in my experience of racing. Saturday was Peak to Peak in lower Michigan. High 30’s and pouring rain! Sloppy mess and no brakes at all half way through the first lap. Since the course is very sandy everyone’s brake pads were completely gone after 1 lap I was not having the best day, pulled the plug after 1 lap and the race was called after 2 as it was such a mess out there.
Next day was the WORS season finale in Sheboygan. It had rained the entire day prior and all race day. So here is what the race looked like most of the course.
Nice shot of the mess in Cyclingnews.com’s write up.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/wisconsin-off-road-series-wors-12-wigwam-challenge-2012/cross-country/photos/241953
And a little Vid one our new team members shot.
I had amazing legs but just kept making big mistakes that cost tons of time in the mud. I was taking bad lines forcing me to run stuff I could ride twice as fast and I had quite a few crashes, which is not like me at all in the mud, but I was in chase mode from the start. Into the first single-track I hit a stump that was buried in mud, so from there I was taking bigger risks than usual. Sometimes this pays off and sometimes it just makes the gap bigger. On that day it was the latter, I fought back for third and a good paycheck for the day still.
Pro/Cat 1 Awards Sheboygan
We all washed off in 50 degree’s and raining afterward in the lake!
After Sheboygan I was not sure about Iceman, took a week off and then got a little motivated. Did a few intervals and went for a chance at the $, but also to meet up with a bunch of people in the industry, thank sponsors, and grow Vision. The start at the Iceman is everything and I knew mine was not going so well when I found myself shuffled behind a Fat bike in the PRO field! I chased hard and almost latched back onto the lead group, but quite a few mistakes were made in front of me in the 1st single-track and from there it was game over. I didn’t have the best fitness going in anyways and I would have had to have a royal flush in terms of the dice roll on race day to pull off my goals.
As far as the WORS series, the overall result was just short of my goal, but an improvement still. 2nd overall is not too shabby, and with a major illness mid-season I would say it was all I could have pulled off with the cards dealt. Here is my interview from the Banquet.
Since Iceman and the first big snow here in Wisconsin I have spent a good amount of time on my 616 Fabrications Fat Bike fully decked out in RaceFace and their new Fat Bike crank set(s). I want to thank them both as sponsors for making this happen. With winter being so long here and so much time on the trainer it is awesome to get out and a huge resource for training as nothing indoors can simulate the needs of race fitness like an off-road ride! I am continually amazed at how this frame rides more like an XC bike than a traditional Fat Bike. Absolutely fly’s through the layers of snow on the trail right now. Can’t wait to race it a few times to get the legs ready before my first Pro XCT race coming fast early March in Dripping Springs, Texas!
Even with the fat bike, on the bitterly cold days I am still doing quite a bit of riding indoors, had a promo video and commercial made around that theme recently. Well done to Marty Tank on these productions!
That is all for now, leave ya with a few shots we did of the Fat Bike on a sunny day after the first big snow.
Happy New Year!
Then it was onto a double header weekend that was the muddiest sloppiest weekend ever in my experience of racing. Saturday was Peak to Peak in lower Michigan. High 30’s and pouring rain! Sloppy mess and no brakes at all half way through the first lap. Since the course is very sandy everyone’s brake pads were completely gone after 1 lap I was not having the best day, pulled the plug after 1 lap and the race was called after 2 as it was such a mess out there.
Next day was the WORS season finale in Sheboygan. It had rained the entire day prior and all race day. So here is what the race looked like most of the course.
Nice shot of the mess in Cyclingnews.com’s write up.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/wisconsin-off-road-series-wors-12-wigwam-challenge-2012/cross-country/photos/241953
And a little Vid one our new team members shot.
I had amazing legs but just kept making big mistakes that cost tons of time in the mud. I was taking bad lines forcing me to run stuff I could ride twice as fast and I had quite a few crashes, which is not like me at all in the mud, but I was in chase mode from the start. Into the first single-track I hit a stump that was buried in mud, so from there I was taking bigger risks than usual. Sometimes this pays off and sometimes it just makes the gap bigger. On that day it was the latter, I fought back for third and a good paycheck for the day still.
Pro/Cat 1 Awards Sheboygan
We all washed off in 50 degree’s and raining afterward in the lake!
After Sheboygan I was not sure about Iceman, took a week off and then got a little motivated. Did a few intervals and went for a chance at the $, but also to meet up with a bunch of people in the industry, thank sponsors, and grow Vision. The start at the Iceman is everything and I knew mine was not going so well when I found myself shuffled behind a Fat bike in the PRO field! I chased hard and almost latched back onto the lead group, but quite a few mistakes were made in front of me in the 1st single-track and from there it was game over. I didn’t have the best fitness going in anyways and I would have had to have a royal flush in terms of the dice roll on race day to pull off my goals.
As far as the WORS series, the overall result was just short of my goal, but an improvement still. 2nd overall is not too shabby, and with a major illness mid-season I would say it was all I could have pulled off with the cards dealt. Here is my interview from the Banquet.
Even with the fat bike, on the bitterly cold days I am still doing quite a bit of riding indoors, had a promo video and commercial made around that theme recently. Well done to Marty Tank on these productions!
Happy New Year!
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