Nice Man "Not so Nice to me"

I did my first ICE MAN last weekend and i was nervis as all hell couldent stop thinking of the race all the way up to Michigan. We arived at the finish and pre road the chourse backwards about 12 miles legs were not fealing it at all i felt really slow. So after a rocken pasta dinner i went back to the hotel to rest up for the big day. Got up earley and felt great i was ready to race did a good 30min warm up and went to the line first row 119 riders good size field. 10:10 take off time and we were off i was racing 2nd wheel and was fealing great i was fealing lots of power in my little legs and hoping for a win. All i was thinking about was the finish line and how well i was doing we had a group of three off the front we had about a 4 min gap on thw whole field never was in that position befor and it felt great. And 15 miles into the rase the worst happened turned a corner took it to wide and crunch a bunch of sticks went into the spokes and gave me a flat tire. I just said NO NO NO not today go figure best race of the seasion and it went upsidedown i tried to change the tubless and it dident work after 3 Co2 cartridges it was over or was it? 13 miles to go it's a long way back so i raced my ass off on my flat tire and rim and ended up 52 out of 119 not bad racing for hving a flat i will be back next year to redeam my self and i will be even faster. Untell then off to more training and get ready for the Wisconsin State Championship CycloCross race.

GREEN MONSTER

Tackling the GREEN MONSTER.

CycloCross in Louisville 'O-YAH'

USGP day one in Louisville my best race ever 109 entry's so the starting grid was full. I had to start 3/4 in the back of the pack and try to work my way up to the front, it's tough riders all over the place soon before you know it crash #1 right in front of me. Sitting around 30th i had to jump over a few riders and work my through the first crash on my way to the first set of bearers feeling great passing left and right and giving it my all. Soon before i new it i was coming up to the BIG Green MONSTER it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be up and over no problems lap one done and did 3 more and ended up in 11th place out of 109. Day 2 not so good it seemed like every one was all over the place 2 crashes at the start set me back and i try ed so hard to get to the front and burned my self out. So i raced hard for 3 more laps with 5 other guys and fell off the train 1/2 lap to go ended up in 21st place. I went into Thea's two races hoping to get in the top 20 and i did on day one and just missed it on day two all i can do is train harder to get faster. Special thanks to Brian Matter for the support not every race you get your coach on the course to push you harder. I guess i could go on and on about the race and trip but i took in so much it was a great experience and if you love CycloCross i encourage you to hit up the good old country blue grass in Louisville it was a blast. Six more Cross races in Wisconsin and than off to Michigan for ICE-MAN.

Up north

I took a week off of training i think the legs really appreciate it, Went up north to the cabin in the town of fence. It was wonderful, peaceful, and lots of fun. Great home made food but a little chilly temperature's dropped down in the 20's we managed to stay warm with a wood stove some times it got to warm. Took the Cyclo Cross bike with and putt some miles on Saturday lots of hills, sand, mud, and gravel it was perfect to get ready for Kentucky which I'm leaving for on Friday for a cross race. It felt funny getting back on a bike after having a week off hope the legs are ready for the race I would like to do well its my first race out of the state i cant wait should be lots of fun.

WORS done CROSS on.....

Got the final race in for the wors series wasn't what i wanted but i did my best in the sheboygan race. Started out great stayed on some fast wheels for 2 laps and than the worst happened, Hit the crick crossing to hard and to fast and blew out the back tire. Pounded 2 co2's in the tire and by the time i could get back into it 10 or more racers passed me i was not focused after that. It took me about 1/2 of a lap to recover and get back into the groove Finley i jumped on a wheal and started to pound and 1 lap to go that wheal i was riding was wearing me out i just could not recover and i started to fall apart. About 1/2 of a lap to finish the pro riders started to come up on me that's when i new it was over for me O well did the best i could 5th in my age and 33rd overall there were 101 racers hope to get a good win next year. Riley had a good race 2nd in his age and 2nd over all good job riley. So it ends like this 25th overall for the series and 2nd over all in my age category Riley ended 4th in age for the year that is awesome for not training great job riley I'm proud of you. Now it's time to press on and do the CycloCross thing and ICE MAN than rest rest rest rest...........Until than peace out. And a special thanks to the #1 wors leader and a great trainer Brian matter thanks so much could not have done it with out you and i will be ready to take it to the next level.

11 down 1 to GO.

The family and i went out to the beautiful north woods out to White Lake. 6:oo am and a chilly 44 degrees it was hard to believe that we were going to a race. I never noticed how beautiful up north was until we made our way to Bear Paw camp resort, the leaves,trees,Rivers and lakes. Well lets get to it, riley raced in the cold at 9:30am i don't know how he does it but he placed 3rd and had a great race well done riley I'm proud of you. My self had a great start latched onto the fastest wheal and started to climb the hill's. It was a tough start up 4 hills and into some double track than single track and before I could get to the single track 9 guys passed me that put me in 10th not good cause I'm trying to keep my 3rd place age category. So lots of work to do in the greasy, wet, and hilly single track. I had 2 bad laps not fully focused i was all over the place finally i kicked my self in the but and brought it all together and had my fastest lap and was picking riders off left and right and finished 3rd in age which i had to get or i could have went down to 4th so that was a plus and 21st over all so despite the cold,rain and slick single track it was all rite for me and the race course at Bear Paw was great i would do it again.

2 CycloCross race's in the book

Well training has been mainly on the Cross bike and Mountain Bike i have been really busy with work,training and the family. I had my first Cross race weekend of the year and it wasn't to bad i can brush up on Lot's of things but but overall i feel great about my riding. The first day i placed 33rd i know it does not sound good but out of 86 of the top riders in the Midwest and a back row call up. I tried to bust up front but its hard trying to get to the front with 80+ riders all over the place so i did what i could and went from 81st to 33rd at the end of race #1. Sunday was lots better still back row call up but finished 20th out of 91 riders now that's better so 2 races in and getting stronger just have to work on the skill, and try to be more aggressive that might move me up. Back to Mountain bike racing this Sunday WORS race # 11 Bear Paw new race different pace would like to have a top 20 overall finish than final race # 12 sheboygan would love to win it or at least top 5 overall finish. Where there Will there's a way I'm going to put my all into it i have been tearing my legs off trying to win a race hopefully soon.

Race # 10 WORS

It was a great day for racing not to hot and not to cold. Jumped off the start in 5th place felt good and than a group of guys took off like a bat out of hell, Up the hills and into the single track we all went. I felt like crap my first lap than it all came to me started to pick off racers left and right moving up fast but a little to fast, Took a spill in the rock garden and let me tell you it hurt took me out of focus a little bit but jumped back on the bike and tried to finish strong. Picked off a few more racers and ended up 7th place and 30th over all not bad for a old man it was a rough course lots of single track. I am now sitting 3rd in my age and 30th over all in the series i really wanted to crack the top 20 overall but i don't think that is going to work out. Cross seasion is right around the corner and so is the sheboygan race, The race i have been focused on all summer long. Congratulation's to Brian matter on winning the big race in cable Wi.

Train-Train its lots of PAIN.

Pounded out miles and miles over the weekend nothing new just trying to get faster and faster. As a wise racer and trainer told me it takes time and lots of heart. I have the heart but i feel like I'm running out of time I'm not getting younger.32 years old how much can my body take? Its been a long and hard summer of training ya i got faster and stronger but i can feel the hurt. Cyclo-Cross is right around the corner and I'm pumped up, with my new xo1 trek i am ready to race hard and fast. But first i have to finish off the WORS series and my main focus is the sheboygan race it would be a dream come true to become 1st over all in the comp class all i can do is try my hardest, and let me tell you what i have trained my but off all summer long for this.

INTENSE race #9

Well where do i start? It's been a while since i have posted anything on my blog but brian matter has kept me real busy training i have yet missed a training day and soon one day i will be strong and fast where i want to be "it just takes time". I have raced all but 2 WORS races and i am moving up and getting faster, but this last race got the best of me and my legs. The reforestation race was fun and fast i didn't get a call up to the line but still had a great start i was with a group of 10 guys for 24 miles and than it all fell apart after the 2nd lap. Legs started to cramp and the water just wasn't cutting it i forgot my cito max drink at home BIG mistake so i slowly fell off the back. Ended up 7th in my age and 40th over all there were 79 racers total worst race out of the season glad to get that one out of my system.Up next Lake Geneva i'll keep the blog page up dated from hear on out hope to bring good news to the table.

Each race i feal closer and closer to victory just have to play it smart and safe. I have been getting lots of tips from local riders and fellow racers and the more i take it all in the better i get. Tim drankes and i are going to the Downer Classic in Milwaukee today and were going to try to help each other to finish well. I have now finished 7 race's on the road and it's been tougher than i thought the cat 4/5 is really fast and strong but it's only made me stronger. I'm throwing out a thanks to all who have been giving me really great racing tips it's working just going to take a little while to dominate.

cant race when your sick.

well i took vacation for a reason to do well in my week of racing and unfortunately I'm sick, BIG chest cold and its holding me back from racing at my peek. You cant win when your sick so i will be taking 3 days off and try to get better to do well in the sheboygan race. Riley my son placed 5Th on Saturday it was HOT out side he did well but started to warm up a little to early and wore him self out he still had a good race I'm proud of my little buddy.

first road race of the year DNF? "what"

It was a busy day at the first race for tour of America's Dairy Land good weather for all the riders and spectators. Well now i know why this is a potential course for the 2018 Olympics it was one of the hardest race course i ever did. We all started as a big group and i sat in on the 5Th wheel so i could draft and save some energy things were going well, Still in 5Th place and the first big clime hit me like a BIG wall it was never ending going up. While the first group of guys took off thee were 7 i could not keep up there climbing skills were just to good but i hung on to the following group witch were the chaser's there were about 9 of us and soon before u know it more hills it was never ending. People were dropping out left and right it was crazy i never witnessed so many racers dropping out of a race it was that hard. I on the other hand could of finished strong top 10 but i did a rookie mistake and went in the wrong direction and ended off course i listened to a race course Marchelle who sent me the wrong way. I guess i should have previewed the course earlier. I have a race today at noon at Waterloo I'll try my best not to screw this one up.

Last day of hard training today and it was beautiful out side. I did two 20min micro inter volts and a hour and a half of riding getting ready for the road racing week starting Thursday. I feal ready for the long week's to come racing non stop from the 18th of June to the 28th of June Monday will be the only rest day i will get. I also worked on the family van today what a pain in the butt changing spark plugs and wires i would not like to do that again. And yard work was done and house chores. Now you know why I'm sleeping in the photo above and that's what i will be doing for the next 3 days rest,rest,rest. Have to be fully rested for the race days to come hopefully wally will pull a win for the GEAR GRINDER team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

saturday morning bike ride

80 miles on the road bike today and did it with a great group of guys it was fast at times but i kept up with the lead guys, I have to send out a thanks to mike spiro and rob boldt for pushing me at times thanks guys it was a blast and i think they are making me faster and more ready for my first road race. Most of all i don't think i would be this fast if it wasn't for my trainer Brian Matter thanks Brian this is the best year ever for me.We also stoped down by elkhart lake to check out the triathlon never watched one but it looks tough,nice finish for our GEAR GRINDER justin "punk" 2ND place hands down to you.One more hard training day for me and than rest up for the tour of America's dairy land races i will be doing all races but 2 never did a road race but i have to start somewhere. Keep you posted on the finishes hopefully every thing will go well.

hard at work wanting to be #1 is not easy.