For Sale

My 2009 S-Works Epic is now for sale...pics and specs up soon.

Iceman, 2010 On Deck

Now that the Niceman is over so is our season; ADV 212 had a good day finishing 17th (MP), 20th(CP), and 21st(DB). Not exactly dominating but still a solid finish after a long hard season. Looking forward to 2010 and a return to normalcy after an overbooked 2009. We will still be rocking the Specialized and some new members will be flying the red and orange...Let's hope for a mild winter! That's all for now..

Iceman Etc

After this past weekend I found out you can't not ride for 3 weeks and then jump into a race without feeling awful. Heading to Iceman this wknd, now just for fun as I realize the fitness I did have has eroded to the point where I'm not sure the emercency VO2's I have planned for tonight will do much good. However; the kitchen is coming together and T-day might actually go off as planned. I always need a deadline or I'll just keep adding to and/or refining what I've already done.

Here are some before and after pics...still have a few things to do, like install new trim:

Before






After:







That's all for now...

For Sale

Got a set of Bontrager 29r wheels to unload, brand new RXL Race X Lite TLR tubeless ready. Check em out here. Retail is $899, Asking $500. I'll be posting them on ebay in the next day or so if there's no local interest. Also have a set of Bonty 29.3 EXP tires to go with them, brand new, here's a review on em, with the wheels asking $50 and separate will be $75.

Email me at mik_phil@yahoo.com w/questions...

Kickstart

Ok, so this blog has stalled a bit..time for a virtual espresso. Rine said I had to update so here goes:

Roll back to Ore 2 Shore, my first attempt at this race had me somewhat anxious, but I figured it would be a good gauge of my fitness on the way to Chequamegon. After a preview of the last 20 miles I felt good about my chances as there are no major climbs, ha. In hindsight maybe I should have ridden the first 10 as well? Anyway, I ended up in the front row for the start, and I dislike these mass road starts so I prefer to get out of there as quick as possible. The Bells guy next to me said we "just sprint up to the stop sign", so that's what I did, alone. Whoops. After a couple min Chris rolled up and told me to get off the front. That was good timing, as the pace quickly ramped up after that. Once we got to the dirt there was an attack on the first climb, making me wish I hadn't hero'd the start. I held on and we regrouped for a bit. Next attack came from Mike Anderson, and on a longish climb he got a gap that Matter bridged alone. I was a hurtin' unit behind Swanson, but at the top I went up to do some work to bring them back. Off we went...in the wrong direction. It didn't feel right but no one said anything, I kept looking back for confirmation. Over the next hill I looked back and I was alone. How depressing. After turning back and getting to the top of the hill, I could see my chase companions (Doug, Marko, Hall, etc) getting back on the course off in the distance. Racers were streaming by in packs of 20 as I made my way back to the course. Rest of the race was spent passing. Once we arrived at Misery hill I was able to see the chase group nearing the top, motivating me. From then on I was in TT mode, slowly closing the gap. I figured if I could get within 20 sec I could bridge on the last 20 miles of dirt. Doug and TJ seemed to be doing all the work from my view off the back; in the singletrack I saw TJ with another flat and he said they were right there, so I pushed the pace. Finally I was on them, then we caught Lummis and Ted H, the last riders between us and the leaders. I recovered for a bit, and then made a move to the front for the last 5 miles or so, with Doug cheering me on to go faster. I was cramping up but I did feel a little bad for taking the wrong turn so I motored on, knowing he would attack me at the finish for the final podium. "You owe me Mikey!" I supppooooossse....I was pretty stoked to be feeling so good and it was fun making it back up front for 4th after my bumbling. I just can't believe I've never done this race before?! Afterwards it was some awesome Pizza with the team...and then...my favorite, the Bells team party! Lummis kept us supplied at the awards with a mini keg of Oberon, and hooked up the dangerous passes and free drink tix. Needless to say it was a long ride home the next day. Thanks as always to Chris and Michelle at Adventure 212 for the great support!

So after a week of hard training it was back in the auto for another long drive to River Falls, this time for the WORS Border Battle, where all the fast WI and MN guys get together and beat up on each other. This report will be brief, since I have cabinets to stain and a moped to follow later 2day. Basically my legs were tired and I managed to make it thru the first 2 laps with the lead 5, consisting of TJ, Brendan Moore, Jesse, Marko and myself. We had a 6th Beatle in there for a bit in the shape of Nate G, but he fed the dirt corner some Stans and had to check out early w/ a mushy tire (but he was killing it b4 that!) Anyhew...I recovered and then magically I could go up the start hill fast for lap 4...what the hell. I attacked, not so much for the big W but just cuz it's fun, as well as to prevent the guys from resting too much before the bell lap. I knew TJ would attack so it would be better for him if everyone was tired. SOooooo...I wrapped it up mid lap and rested so as not to get dropped when the fireworks went off, which they did on the start hill going into lap 5. TJ and Marko passed a bunch of Comp guys and then dissapeared into the woods. I let Brendan chase like a good teammate. He was riding strong, but I wanted to try Matters' move from last year that bumped me to 4th, so in the last open section I punched it and rolled in behind TJ. I am trying to be a more aggressive rider, even attacking mercilessly for 3rd place. So, that be it. The cabinets are calling me...oh and here are some pics from the WORS race courtesy of skinnyski.com, I can't find any free O2S images...

LATRON (that's a robotic "Later Dude")

Not So Fast

You always have to throw it up on the wall and see if it sticks; yesterday Nathan pulled it off while I came up a bit short. He did his normal World Cup assault start of Crystal Ridge with Macjei, Matter and I in tow. The twisty trails allowed them a small gap, so I took over and went chasing. I had Nate in my sights for the prime climb but he was smoking the hill and I was only keeping up about 15 secs down.






It stayed this way for the first two laps give or take, then I felt the leash pull tight around my neck. Next up on the detonation agenda: leg cramps! My favorite. When you have power this course is a blast, but as Clint E said..."a man's got to know his limitations". Mine? Climbing. Big ringing the climb on laps 1&2 caught up w/me. I let Matter by at some point and went on cruise control. If you look close at my face here you can see the thought..."are we almost done?"



I managed to hold on for 3rd with big D breathing down my neck. I'm hoping this opened up the legs for O2S next week, it's my 1st time so I dunno what to expect but I know it will be fast! Chris will be back soon from floating around Europe, he should be dying to race but I bet his resting heart rate is pushing 165 after his daily menu of 3 lattes a day!

That's all for now...

Lost and Found

Here are some pics from Sunburst courtesy of the WORS board; I actually had a good race after I made it thru the 1st lap and my legs finally woke up. I spent Saturday pulling shrubs out around the house so my back was not too happy and I wasn't expecting much. Ended up 4th after chasing Tristan around all day with his teammate Marko on my wheel, seems it's his turn for pre-wedding legs? Darrin had his best yet coming in next for 5th.











So last week wrapped up a month-long assault on my LT, which I have stubbornly worked back up to last springs levels. I've been fast in spring for a few years and it will be fun instead to have legs for the latter half of the season. Speaking of which I am doing Ore 2 Shore for the first time, so that should be a good time. Really though it is all about Chequamegon which means August will be secret training time, it's so secret that I don't even know what it is yet!

That's all for now...