The Lost Blog

Back in the saddle again! Its been a rough 7 weeks off the bike due to an awesome hand injury sustained at an Ultra Endurance race at West Branch State Park.

Not having health insurance is proving to be an unwise decision for a fellow in my shoes! Lucky for me I have had the broken hand deal happen before so I knew just what to do...kinda. I got on ebay and made my own cast.



















So I was hoping to be able to ride with this thing but no go. Too much pain. I was forced into running which I generally do not enjoy. I made the best of it though and even did a 5k event for charity which was actually quite fun!



After 6 weeks of pain I eventually did go to the doctor who declared the bones healed correctly. And I should be fine in 4 more weeks.

The very same day I was back on the new Trek frame in my new Trek kit! It was so nice to be back in the saddle but I have a lot of work to do to get ready for the Arizona Mountain Bike series I will be competing in this winter!



But back to the racing....what a dismal end to the season I had. After a few podiums in a row back in July and August I was feeling good. Then a 5th place at the annual Camp Manitoc was hard to take. I just chalked it up to having a bad day.

The following race was at Dillon State Park and was an Ohio Championship Series race. The Trek Superfly was handling the course superbly. Filled with rocks and roots and gnarly terrain that this bike was made for. I was having a decent race and was in 2nd and feeling good, when a course marshal directed me the wrong way at an intersection. By the time I realized the deal and got back on course I was mid pack and the heat was getting to me. I gave up....DNF'd ...then proceeded to feel awful about it to this day. Big reminder to never give up and just finish it out if at all possible no matter what....it always works out better than you expect!

No problem though, I had some decent finishes in the series and there were plenty of races to make up for it. Next up was another state series race on a course I usually do well at. The technical Ceasars Creek course.

Again I was having a good race and in 2nd place when I had a catastrophic mechanical failure. This...again sometimes happens in a mountain bike race and is just part of the sport. However the bike was not rideable and I was forced to DNF AND hitch hike back to the start finish.

Ok...two DNF's in a row and now up is the West Branch 5 hour race. I love these races and was very much looking forward to it. Unfortunately my mind was elsewhere and I neglected to pre ride the course, and neglected to properly prepare my tires for the terrain...and paid the price big time.

I came to this race well rested, trained, and ready to make up for the recent bad luck. I got out front early and actually maintained a good gap for a little while...until my front tire went flat. I aired it and rode but had to stop and install a tube.

Then on the second lap the rear tire went flat! Damn now I am out of contention for sure I was thinking. Repaired and headed out for my 3rd lap now nearly 3 hours into the race. I was trying to make up some time on whoever I could and race hard. But I kept crashing in the corners unexpectedly. I was unaware my front tire was leaking again and rolling on the rim. On the 3rd and final crash my hand was bent backward and I felt the familiar snap and instant dull pain and that brings us back to where I began. A 3rd DNF in a row and a big fat broken hand just to seal the deal.

Somehow I still pulled out a 5th overall in the Ohio Points Series! I was shocked and pretty happy considering how the season ended.

I also recently competed in my first Protection Trial with my Rottweiler bitch "Lava". That was a really cool experience and something I have wanted to do for a number of years. While we did pass the protection phase we unfortunately failed the tracking and retrieval phases. Not a big deal to me but obviously not the goal. We also earned a Begleithund title on my 15 month old "Sookie". It is a prerequisite to move on to the protection trials so it was a bitter sweet weekend at the dog trial.

In two days I leave for Arizona. I will be living there and racing the local series, exploring the area and culture...hopefully it will inspire me to keep this updated more often and get some good photos going again.

Expect updates soon!

Lake Hope OMBC

Lake Hope is always a fun course to race. Whether wet or dry it's always a fast race on what I consider to be a "real" mountain bike trail. The 15 mile loop has enough climbing to satisfy the masochist in most of us, an equal number of ripping downhills, and just enough technical features to test all skill levels. Add the feeling of being very far removed from civilization, and some very nice scenery and it is the definition of Ohio Mountain Biking.

Most years it is hot and this year, again, it was hot. Dry conditions left the course completely dry and as fast as it could possibly get. As I do every race at the start line I looked for my competition and marked 5 time state champion Dave Walker.

The race started and Dave jumped out front pretty fast onto the gravel road. I did not expect it and had lined up in the second row since it was a road start. After a minute I was on his wheel and the pace slowed a bit.

Into the woods Dave blew past the first turn and I was in the lead.
I settled into a comfortable pace right away. The singletrack was tight so passing me would be difficult and this race is long. 30 miles is on the long side especially on hilly terrain so conservation was the name of the game.

In no time Dave and another racer were right on me and the 3 of us slowly created a gap. Things were going good until we suddenly started running into racers that were behind us. We had taken a wrong turn and were running backwards on the course now. We all stopped, trying to decide what to do, then more racers came from behind. It was obvious the course was marked wrong and we all decided to keep going backwards.

Starting the second lap the course had been corrected and the race was on. It was only Dave and I now and he was leading with me chasing. The heat was starting to get to both of us some and Dave began to slow in the last couple miles. He was preparing for a sprint finish since neither of us was able to shake the other. Then in one of the many high speed, loose, gravely turns he went down pretty hard right in front of me and I sprinted for the finish.

After several minutes I settled back into an easy pace since I had not seen him chasing. He raced smart and snuck up on me, I never knew he was there but I still crossed the line first to take the win by 8 seconds!

After the race there was much debate about the wrong turn and it was decided that since we did complete the entire course the results would stand....it was a very unusual situation.

Overall a very fun race and some much needed points in the State Championship Series.

Next race is another Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Series race at Ceasar's Creek near Cincinnati.

Findlay Time Trial and Alum Creek

The Tuesday NIght Findlay Time Trial Series is under way again and it's nice to have a midweek race in the otherwise boring training routine. Findlay is practically in my backyard and I know the trail quite well. So far I have been able to squeak out the fastest time at the 3 events I have been able to attend. I was confident and excited about the upcoming NEO Power Series Time Trial at Findlay. The NEO guys put on such a great and fun series and it happens to fall during the time of year I enjoy the most.

Going into late summer it seems there is at least one race every weekend, and with 6 months of solid training it's time to coast a little and just enjoy racing and great weather. Race, rest, maybe train a little and race some more.

After two races in one weekend followed by a double time trial the following Tuesday I was extra tired and looking forward to a few days of rest before the big NEO time trial. And of course I get sick, like really sick. Apparently I had ingested just a bit too many races in too short a time and my body was overcooked.

I showed up for the time trial still feeling ill, was welcomed by mud which I had not prepared for. And proceeded to have a terrible ride, coming in at 6th place....not a great way to start the series.

Only one week later I had my chance to redeem myself at the Alum Creek State Championship Series race. This is another of my favorite courses because of it's overall high speed and it's just technical enough for my taste.

The start was pretty fast, I knew my main competition was Ben, who beat me by 30 seconds at the previous OMBC race, so he was my target for the day. I was feeling better than the previous week but not quite at full power yet.

The start down the mile or so of dirt road was faster than I anticipated. This was fun but I did not have the power to sprint into the singletrack in good position. By the time we rearranged ourselves Ben was out of site and gaining time on me.

I zoomed three laps in second place in a pretty uneventful race. It was smooth, it was fun, a little slippery , but my Superfly 100 did an excellent job of soaking up every high speed bump and root on the trail. It's been such an awesome experience to see just how good this bike works and how versatile it is as I use it on different terrain each weekend.

Eventually I cruised across the line in Second, a couple minutes out of first.

Up Next.....OMBC race at Lake Hope State Park in Athens!

Vultures Knob and East Fork OMBC

It's been a couple years since I have raced back to back cross country races. And with two Ohio races on the schedule the same weekend I jumped at the opportunity.

First up was a Vulture's Knob series race. I have not had good luck here so far this season and had high hopes for this race.

I got a great start and jumped into the lead going into the singletrack. I was feeling great and riding well and the top few of us had created a gap early in the race.

Then as fast as it started my race came to an end as I slashed a tire in the first stream crossing. I put a tube in and was able to continue but since I was so far back decided to DNF and save myself for the next day's race at East Fork.............................................................................................. East Fork State park near Cincinnati is among my favorite courses. Probably the fastest course we race all season here in Ohio. It's a mostly flat singletrack loop with a bunch of high speed turns connected by a couple miles of road.

On race day temps hovered near 90 under sunny skies. Humidity was not too bad. No rain recently left the trails dusty and fast, always a fun combination.

The race started on the road near the beach. I recognized Indiana Andy and Kentucky Tony as I lined up at the start, two hella fast racers from the nearby states.

As we set of up the first paved climb that begins the race I fell into line near the front. The park ranger was supposed to clear the road of traffic but apparently they missed this civilian on a hybrid as we overtook him early on the climb. Just as we passed him Indiana Andy attacked the climb, Kentucky Tony went with him and I was lucky enough to jump onto them as the 3 of us formed a small gap heading down the first few miles of road leading to the trail.

As we filed into the trail Kentucky took the lead and I grabbed onto Indiana's wheel as the 3 of us went flying through the woods. These guys were riding very fast and I was content to just follow them for the first lap. I noticed the air was hot, like a hair dryer and decided to be as conservative as possible so as not to burn out early.

Slowly Kentucky pulled away from us and I was undecided on whether to burn some matches and chase him, or bide my time and wait.
Just then Indiana went down hard right in front of me and I was in second all alone. I decided to chase Kentucky for about five minutes but he saw me coming and put in an effort to stay ahead. It was clear I was not going to catch him so I fell back into my racepace just as we entered the 2 mile road section again.
Indiana was coming up behind me now and eventually came around in front again. And now I could see Ohio Ben creeping up on us just as we began lap 2.

Midway through lap 2 Ben had caught us and it was the 3 of us cruising together. Ben passed me then Indiana crashed again, and it was Ben and I together now chasing the leader going into lap 3.

Lap 3 I was getting fatigued and could no longer hold onto Ben, he got a gap and I could see Indiana again behind me. Last lap! I just went with all I had trying to get to the finish.

Approaching the last 3 miles of trail I had 1st and 2nd in my sites then I carelessly monster trucked through the dry creek bed and heard the too familiar hiss of air leaking from my rear tire! No!!! I had worked so hard this race and raced so well to blow it now!
I continued on hoping my fresh sealant would plug the hole and it eventually did. I had just enough air to hold the tire off the rim but I had to be very careful in the corners. I could now only hold speed on smooth straight sections and with two miles to go I did my best to keep the bike upright and the tire on the rim.

I lost some time to first and second and almost got caught from behind but finally finished 3rd. This was a super exciting race and exactly the reason I keep coming back for more. 30 miles of racing and the top 4 finishers were within 90 seconds of each other!

THAT'S racing!

NIRKIN OUT

I had intentionally not scheduled any far away races this year in order to get back into showing and working my dogs. The first stop of the year was the Nation Independent Rottweiler Klub's Midwest Sieger Show and Illinoise State Championships .

I took my 6yr old female Lava n her pup 15 month old Sookie. Sookie would be showing in conformation and Lava was to compete in her first protection tournament. My dog friend Skip traveled up with me and brought his two male dogs. He claims he likes male dogs because he "does not understand the female of ANY species".

Overall it was a real fun weekend consisting of: meeting some new characters in the dog world, seeing some really great dogs, drinking, camping, plenty of heat and sun.

Sookie got an SG on day one and an SG2 and trophy on day two. (sg means "very good") that's good for a bitch her age so I was satisfied.

The protection tournament turned into more of a practice session and was not scored. I am afraid we were a little unprepared having only one day to practice...(last minute decision) it was fun to do anyway.

I spent most of my time taking photos on day one,,,click me if you want to see all hundred n sumthin of them.

Overall it was a great weekend that leaves me looking forward to our next show.

Big Bear 2x12

The BIG BEAR 2X12 race in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia was a relay type event that I competed in with my friend Heidi Shilling. We were each to do 3 laps of around 12 miles on some of the toughest terrain in the area. We had both fared well at our last event and had high hopes of winning this one (along with the mega jackpot first place prize) or at least claiming second place in the coed category.

Arriving at the venue the night before I set up my tent and we built a fire and discussed our plans for the race the next morning. Sleeping under the stars was a nice change of pace. The weather was perfect for camping, 70's and a nice breeze.

The next morning I woke up nearly an hour late due to a technical malfunction of my alarm clock, and we scrambled to get into town for breakfast and back to the venue to prepare for the race. I managed to overeat not even thinking about the fact that I would be racing in less than 2 hours.

Arriving back at camp I walked and fed the pack of Rottweilers I travel with, prepared my bike, and finished just in time for the pre race meeting. Immediately following the meeting we lined up for the start up a long gravel road. I had no time to warm up.

The race started and I was immediately in distress. I managed to cling to the leaders as we entered the trail but without a proper warm up I was feeling major discomfort. Miles of mucus was draining from my nose, perhaps from camping the night before, i am not sure. My plan was to treat it as a time trial and go as hard as possible each lap.

Having never ridden this trail before I was shocked to see how technical it was. Using every ounce of energy I was barely staying with the front group but was happy with my position. The course was littered with boulders, rocks, roots, long climbs, and a surprise around every corner. The dirt was tacky with a few mud holes here and there. My suspenion was overwhelmed and bottomed out often on the ultra rough trail, and I found myself hitting my pedals on the rocks a lot.

Nearing the end of the first lap I caught a pedal in a rather high speed section and hit the ground hard. Our nearest competitors gained nearly a minute on me as I remounted and tried to get my groove back on the way to the finish where I handed our baton off to Heidi for lap 2 of 6.

Temps were rising, Heidi had a good lap and we were sitting in second place when I went out for my second of three laps. I had decided to slowly work up to a time trial pace this lap and I was feeling pretty good. Temps were rising now and the heat was becoming and issue but I still felt as if I was riding well as I made my way through the rough, hilly course.


Arriving at some long climbs I knew the finish was near and ramped up the power, trying to get there in short order. Entering a high speed rock garden (one of dozens) I took a chance and lost...hard. I hit the ground again, very hard this time. I was ok just a bit shaken. But once back on the bicycle I noticed I had bent one of my pedals. This made it very hard to pedal and though it was only a few miles to the finish I lost major time for our team as I limped in to finish my second lap way behind our competition.

Heidi again had a smooth and consistent lap and the thunderstorms rolled in and muddied it up while she was out there. It also cooled things off considerably for my 3rd and final lap. We were down but not out. My third lap was tough, I had repaired my pedal but was being overly cautious after crashing hard my first two laps. The trail was now very muddy and slow just staying upright was goal number one....which I failed at. Crashing hard again on the technical and now slimy boulders about half way through. I basically gave up the race at this point and just tried to save my ass to race another day.

Heidi set out on her final lap but the deal was done at this point, I had a bad day and my riding put us in 4th overall out of 8 teams. Not even near where we wanted to be. I had great fun hangin with Heidi and all my Pennsylvania and West Virginia friends, and the course was great too but my mind was just not in it. I left feeling like I let us down and was a bit bummed for a while....a big change after coming off such an epic win the week before.

Now I am happy to be on a long break from racing. Getting in some long training miles and getting some much needed time away from racing. I am hoping to feel refreshed when I return in mid July....in the meantime it's gonna be work, work, dog shows, work, summer parties and some work.

2010 Mohican 100k

The Mohican 100k is the race I look forward to most each year. It has all the makings of an epic race when the weather is good, and when it rains it becomes more of a torture test to see how much one body and one bike can take.

The course received ample rain in the days leading up to race day, and again the day before, and then just for good measure there were torrential downpours for about 2 hours leading up the the 7a.m. starting time.

The rain stopped just as I arrived at the venue at 6am. I unloaded the bike and while warming up remembered my 4 previous experiences at this race, given the weather conditions I knew I would need some luck to finish today.

I lined up near the front of nearly 600 racers and felt an unusual calm thinking I had prepared as well as possible. Looking around to see who else I recognized I instantly picked out Pennsylvania Steve and Ohio Steve as my major competitors. And of course with so many racers from outside the state and country there was no telling who else I needed to watch.

Finally we were off and racing, the Steves and I were right up front, then Pennsylvania Steve went hard on the first climb to win the cash prize for first to the top, no surprise as he is known as arguably the best climber around. I grabbed the rear wheel of Ohio Steve and my plan was to hold onto him for as long as possible. He and I both know the first 20 miles of singletrack well and I was hoping we could gain some major time on everyone else early in the race.

Once we hit the woods, only 2 miles into the race, Ohio Steve put the hammer down! He was off the front charging hard and it was all I could do to hold on. Hitting the water crossing, steep hikabike, some technical trail, we had gone from a group of several hundred down to an elite ten in no time at all.

As we hit the campground dirt roads I knew it would be my last chance to drink for about 10 miles so I let go of the group ahead and got some fluids down. The humidity must have been near 100 percent and I was already completely soaking wet and would remain so all day.

Hitting the most awesome Mohican State Forrest singletrack I was feeling very good so far. The trails were so extremely muddy, vegetation weighed down by the recent rains was low over our heads and was falling onto the trail in spots on each side, it was hard to see very far ahead. The roots were throwing our bikes sideways on the climbs. My eyes were burning with the mud coming from our tires...glasses are useless in conditions like these.

Somewhere around mile 15 the two Steves and I found ourselves riding all together, Ohio Steve was dying a slow death and waved us around. I followed PA Steve for the next several miles as he slowly climbed out of sight. Now we were into the first long climb of the race. I grabbed for my water bottle and realized that I had not properly prepared for this mud, I was out of water and it was more than 12 miles of extremely slow going to the next scheduled stop. This was my first sign of trouble.

Continuing on at a breakneck pace as planned I decided to just try to make it to Aid station 2 and not waste time stopping at aid 1. After all I just finished my water as I passed the aid station so that should last for a while right?

Now roughly 20 miles into the race I am riding alone and things are going pretty well. Coming across a long wooden bridge at high speed my bike then instantly disappears out from under me and I crash hard onto the wood. Instant pain in my right thigh...I try to stand and can't, I sit back down, yelling and cursing from the pain. "is it broken?" I wonder. I move it and realize its not, and although I cannot walk I climb back on the bike and begin to try to pedal. It's working...kind of. I can put no power into my right leg and I can't tell if it's just a bad charlie horse or if I did some real damage. Pedaling on I decide to try to continue and see if it gets better, after all I am heading in the direction of my car and need to go this way even if I quit. As I pedal I weigh my options and consider quitting the race. But the farther I went the better it felt and I decide to try to defend my position as long as possible.

Long hike a bike up an impossible grade, into some horse trails which are extremely hard to ride going either up or downhill, I am finally out on the road and really beginning to feel the damage of dehydration. My vision is blurring, I am hungry...and thirsty....and out of food and water. I am slowing down, trying to conserve as much energy as possible, now I am hurting. The course starts up a long steep gravel road, my good leg cramps and I cannot continue. For the first time ever at this race I am walking up a road climb. This is not good.

Continuing through the Mohican area countryside I ride zombie-like and slow, finally pulling into the aid station at mile 34. Someone asks if I want my bike washed just as I spy 20 full paper cups of HEED energy drink. I hand him my bike and quickly chug 3 cups of heed. Grab my two bottles, food, and gels, and am back to my bike in about 60 seconds. He at least had cleaned the drivetrain by this time so I lube the chain and jump on the bike, arranging my bottles and pocketing my food. I begin to chow down as I slowly pedal on.

Just then PA Steve comes by from behind....apparently I had passed him while he was changing a flat and I never even saw him. He sees I am suffering and moves on ahead, going out of site quickly. I am powerless to chase him until the hydration and calories can get into my system. Even then the damage from running on empty is done and I realize my fate may be sealed. Now I am racing for 2nd.

I quickly start feeling better but am still experiencing some cramping. Now on the longest road section of the course I welcome some racers from the 100 mile course and work together for a few miles. Just then we come across PA Steve with another flat tire and I realize I am now in the lead!

Putting in the best effort I could manage I ran hard as he jumped on his bike and chase me with a partially inflated tire. I was alive with motivation but my body was still protesting the abuse from early in the race.

I rode right through Aid station 3 without stopping and he was forced to stop for a repair. My body was slowly coming around and I was feeling ok again rolling through another series of dirt roads punctuated by flooded creeks and four wheeler trails.

Finally reaching the last aid station I request my final food and water packet as they fumble around trying to figure out where my stuff is and how to hand it to me. It takes every bit of patience I have waiting while I look over my back for my chaser. Only 6 miles of trail to the finish line now!

I enter the trail knowing I can at least equal the speed of my nearest rival here, only to find that the same trail I was flying through 5 hours ago is now a 4 foot wide river of mud. 600 racers apparently have this sort of impact on flooded singletrack. Some areas are completely impossible to ride, or walk. Falling is the only option. I find riding the side of the trail through the brush to be the best option in most places. I am risking a flat tire but running on adrenaline now. My burning eyes, sore leg, aching feet from shoes filled with gravel, all fades away and I am completely focused on the trail. That part is a fuzzy memory but I do distinctly remember crossing the finish line to take the win in 5 hours and 44 mins. 11 Minutes ahead of Pennsylvania Steve.
This was an "Epic Win" for me and one I will not soon forget!

My Gary Fisher Superfly 100 was the absolute perfect bike to have for this race, and my Bontrager Carbon wheels and components performed flawlessly. I no longer fear muddy races now that I am on 29" wheels. They really are that much better!






Great Video
Videos of the race
more video

Vulture's Knob Groovy Series #2 and Muddy Paws Dog Race

Ah...Vulture's Knob...my favorite racecourse. This is where racing started for me way back when, I think it was just about 10 years ago. Last Saturday night found me back there again racing some the same trails that were built more than a decade ago. After having mixed results so far this season I showed up with no real goals or expectation, just hopes for no mechanical problems and a fun day of racing.

Recent heavy rains left the course extremely muddy and slick, and most of the fast guys from this area showed up to play in the mud. Temps were in the mid 70's with humidity.

Our Pro/Expert start was extremely fast, despite getting a great jump off the line I
found myself neck and neck with 3 other racers 50 yards off the line as we sprinted for the singletrack. Then just as we began our left hand sweeper to begin the prologue one racer decided to go straight causing a high speed pile up involving myself and a couple other racers. We went down hard! I picked myself up to see bikes and bodies and water bottles scattered on the ground to each side of me. Automatically I jumped up and remounted, now at the back of the pack. Time to play catchup!

Slowly working my way through the pack, passing whenever the trail allowed, I clawed my way up to 4th place by the end of lap 1 and was feeling very good.

Early into the second lap I moved into 3rd and rode the entire lap mostly alone, wondering how far ahead the leaders were. Then about mid-lap I caught sight of 2nd place and slowly reeled him in as he began to slow in the hot, muddy, conditions. I found great satisfaction passing him beginning the 3rd and final lap as he was the guy that caused the wreck at the start, and also because I have never beat this multi-time state champion in a fair race.

The final lap was by far the most difficult of the day as the trail became even more unridable in spots and the watery mud became more of a peanut butter consistency. Riding across the line for my final lap I finished 2nd only a few minutes out of first! Definitely my best performance of the year!

But the day was not over yet, we still had the muddy paws dog race with my Rottweiler "Lava". Lava is not fast but she is very reliable and we have been biking together for over 5 years. I had originally planned to do this race with my younger and faster female Rottie but a training injury found her at home recovering.

The "race" was a time trial type event with a staggered start, 2 miles of trail, off leash, with spectators yelling and throwing dog bones at the pups trying to distract em. Including us there were 6 competitors, 2 pit bulls, 1 german shepherd, a pointer, a lab and another dog, I think it was an Aussie mix.

We were among the last to start and Lava began at a blistering pace...for her. It was only a short way into the race she began to slow and then dieseled her way to the finish, slowly but surely, ignoring the other dogs on the trail and the spectators as if they were not even there. We crossed the line somewhere near last place and made the ladder ride for a 20 second time bonus! It was great to compete with my best bud and favorite dog of all time! Lava enjoyed the attention too.

My next race is a biggie...the Mohican 100....not sure if I will do the 65mile or the 100 mile event yet, but it's sure to be an epic adventure!

Thanks to Justyna Wlusek and Bob Grimm and whomever else I stole these photos from!

Thanks to my sponsors Gary Fisher and Bontrager Components! Without them I would be a runner and not a biker!

Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Race #3 "The Wilds"

The "Wilds" is an appropriate name for this course. I seem to forget how difficult it is every year until I get there and do a warm up on the slick, rooty, rocky terrain. We were lucky enough this time to get dry weather for a change and many racers from nearby states showed up to enjoy it.

I was not feeling well at all leading up the race, and even considered skipping it. But I do love racing even when it's not perfect conditions, and I figured I could not get a better workout any other way. So I made the 2.5 hr drive down to Cumberland and signed up to race.

During my warm up ride I noted the trail was extremely tight and technical and I knew a good start would be very important. I set a couple goals, get a good start and hang with the leaders until I puke.

So lining up for the dirt road start I noticed many unfamiliar faces around me, there were so many guys from West Virginia and Pennsylvania it was hard to know who to watch for. No matter, it's not a team sport and my fitness and ability would determine the final outcome anyway.
The starting siren sounded and I clipped in and got a great start, I led the entire pack from the start line, down the road and into the singletrack. It was a good plan as only 3 other guys were able to hang with me and the 4 of us instantly gapped the rest of the racers.

I could not believe I was leading the race and I fought with myself internally to not go too fast. It was difficult, I wanted to take advantage of being in front on such a rough trail but also knew if I redlined that I would get passed and dropped.

As fatigue set in my handling suffered and I slipped off the trail and was passed falling back to 3rd. That was ok though as I could now follow the local fast guys who knew the trail best. I held onto their wheels for several more miles until another slip up sent me crashing off the trail again. Quickly up and on the bike I watched helplessly as the 3 leaders rode away into the distance. I just did not have the fitness to catch back up. Now it was a lone race as I kept an eye out behind me and tried to hold my position.

The course was made for me and my bike, the full suspension and 29" wheels made an extremely technical and rough course much smoother and I enjoyed working the bike through the rough, knowing the guys behind me would be struggling on many of the sections.

It was a painful race as I pushed myself to the limit on the long, 14 mile laps, finally finishing in 2 hrs and 18 minutes for 4th place. Not a bad place but again I was too far behind the leaders for comfort. I am beginning to wonder what the rest of the season holds for me.

I made sure to get my share of Sierra Nevada from the beer bus while waiting for the awards!

"If you do the work, the results will come"....looks like it's time for me to get busy! Next race is only a few days away at Vultures Knob on Saturday!

Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Race #2 "The Grassman"

Grassman was a new course this year to the OMBC. Located in Coshocton it was an unusual mix of flowy smooth singletrack, grassy doubletrack, with rocks and roots on one half of it. Oh, and sprinkle on one huge climb per 7 mile lap just for fun.

Rain the night before and the morning of the race made for one mess of a trail. It also kept many of the racers at home sucking their thumbs. Our Pro/Expert field consisted of only 10 starters.

After walking around in the mud preparing my bike and registering for the race we finally lined up for the start. Off we went up the dirt road and into the first climb, where we all dismounted and walked through the mud.

At the top of the climb a group of 4 of us got away from the rest of the pack and we traded the lead until we were down to 3. I led the race for the first time this season for a few short minutes...but it was nice nonetheless.

Finishing lap one our group began to splinter and a gap formed both in front and behind me as I settled into 2nd place. Then it began to rain, and rain and rain for the remainder of the day. The trail became even more slippery and unpredictable. 3rd place was creeping up on me and my lone ride became a race again. The big climb was nearly impossible to ride and I saw many racers walking up it as I lapped the slower traffic beginning my 3rd and final lap.

With a little luck and a fair amount of pain I finished in 2nd place, still uncomfortably far from first but it's hard to complain about my best finish thus far in 2010. This race was also my first muddy race on 29" wheels and oh my they are the cat's ass in muddy conditions. Or just about any conditions for that matter. 29ers are here to stay as the top 3 guys at every race this year have been aboard the big wheeled machines....but like a said before....more on that in a later blog!

My next race will be Vulture's Knob Groovy Series #2 where I will have something to prove after my flat tire fiasco at the first race. Also there is the muddy paws dog race I will be doing with my Rottweiler "Sookie" the same day, I have a good feeling about this one!

2010 State Championship Race #1

Today was the opening race for the Ohio State Championship Series. I was excited going into this one as I have been on the bike often doing all the right things recently, and Mohican Wilderness is among my favorite courses.


Temps were in the high 40's and the trails were mostly dry. Last fall's leaves had been blown free only hours before the race leaving a slow but traction rich trail to race on.

I grabbed another pretty good start and was about to enter the trail in 3rd when the riders ahead tangled and fell blocking the entire trail. Racers scattered everywhere running and riding around the mess up front and relegating me to mid pack.

By the end of the first of three 10 mile laps I had moved forward to 4th place with 2 guys pretty close behind me. I was not feeling my best, as though my legs were not putting out the power I was asking of them.

Lap 2 had me running scared and feeling a bit better than the first. 5th place began to gain on me up the climbs. The climbing here is brutal, steeper and longer than any other Ohio course. My legs were starting to fatigue and I was looking forward to the end of this one. The top 3 were out of view as I began my final lap.

Lucky for me my chasers tired before I did and my final lap was just a matter of getting to the keg of Dortmunder at the finish as fast as possible. No pressure from the other racers and the traffic on the trail was thinning out. I came across the line in 2hrs 14 mins to claim 4th in the skinny young guy class.

4th place is not bad but the top 3 finished a little too far ahead for comfort. Lucky for me the season is early and I have a plan!

One of the best parts of racing for me is the social scene after the race and this one was no disappointment. I saw some folks I had not seen in a very long time and met some newer racers who I expect to be future friends....and as usual, I was among the last racers to leave the venue. Good times!


Thanks Al Prososki for the photos!

Vulture's Knob Race #1 of 2010

A long time has passed since you have heard from me.
It seems like no matter how I try to unclutter my life, each year is somehow even more busy than the last! I even took 5 months away from racing mountain bikes, it's been six years since I had a break of that length if my memory is correct. Anyway work has been my main focus in the "off season". A two week long trip to the desert southwest was in there somewhere, all the while I stayed on my bike in one way or another but was unsure about my race fitness until last weekend.
Saturday was the first of the Vulture's Knob series and the first MTB race in Ohio for 2010. There was much talk before the race about who was fast this year and who was already registered...everyone was freaking out with anticipation of the thrill of victory or the almost equal thrill of just finishing the race....or the possibility of disaster.

Personally I was anticipating my first race on my new bike, and on 29" wheels.

The weather was perfect, low 60s and sunny and the trails very dry. The start was very fast, with nearly 20 large class sprinting for the singletrack. I grabbed a textbook perfect start and was 2nd into the trails, then dropping to third shortly thereafter. The 3 of us grew a quick lead on the pack and things were looking very good until...

Flat rear tire on one the signature knob rocks had me stopping to change a tube...only I had grabbed the wrong size, a 26" tube that I could not get in my 29" tire. So walking back to the car I felt some sense of disappointment knowing I had a chance at a good finish.

15 minutes later I get back onto the trail and work my way through the 140 novice and sport racers, finally catching some experts late in the 3rd and final 7 mile lap. Needless to say I did not place high but after seeing my lap times I had some satisfaction knowing my fitness is good.


Thanks to my friend Jason Shaffer for the photos. He completed his first ever race on his Trek Fuel that day. He is already an accomplished photographer and I have a feeling he will be a fixture at more races in the future.

Next race will be Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Race #1 @ Mohican State Park. More on my new BIKE in a future blog.

2010

Welcome to the new blogspot!

I am very happy to announce I will be racing for Gary Fisher and Bontrager in 2010 aboard Fisher's new Superfly 100 Carbon Fiber Full Suspension 29er!