Post Winter Solstice

Badger 29er with Ritchey Speedmax Pro CX tires = pretty quick on gravels. Kinda nice to be running gears again for a bit. Tailwinds are nice. I keep finding myself in the 40x12. Might have to get something bigger than a 40T. Tried the tubeless bit with the cross tires but just couldn't get a good seal. Prolly due to my crappy job cutting the valve hole on the new yellow rim tape and the fact that it usually helps to have warmer weather to get a good seal. Guess I'll have to wait a bit to get that working.

Looking forward to getting ahold of some of the new 29er treads out there. That Kenda Nevegal looks nice, but then so does the Panaracer Rampage, WTB Wiefwolf, Specialized Resolution, and Michelin XC.

Made it into the Ouachita Challenge. A few didn't, bummer. Registration filled super fast this year. I wonder when all these other ultra 100 events open up and if they have rider caps. I'm definitely looking forward to this season, bunch of new events and trails to explore, stacked new team for the mtb stuff(wish I could elaborate here but it hasn't been officially cleared yet. Lets just say that I am merely a bench warmer on this team, lots of talent).



Christmas was good. Couple good rides, some much needed articles of clothing, and one of the coolest movies I've seen in awhile: The Fastest Indian. Burt Monroe was one amazing cat. Maybe a bit crude in his methods, but meticulous and unrelenting. Reminds me alot of some of the great HPV builders I've met in my exploits. And I'm afraid I see alot of the same in my own shop, I just haven't taken to sleeping out there(yet). The sound of the moto in this movie re-awakens the motorhead in me. I'm sure I'll get back to the non-hpv stuff eventually. One obcession at a time.

• Finished up the fork for next liner. Nice tight fit on the 451 SA drum wheel, milled the crown to end up with about an 1/8th of an inch clearance from tire to crown. Real nice. Next, I suppose I get to rethink what I'm building and who I'm building it for. My original plans have been put on hold for a multitude of reasons which made for a pretty crappy Monday last week. IE: back to the drawing board. But thats not all bad, means I get to work on a new shell design, and I won't have to figure out who the hell the thing belongs to when I'm finished. Sounds like I just answered my own question. I'll be building the next liner to fit me. It will be dual 451, fwd, dual drum brake, 15deg seat angle, really friggen low and about half the size of the Cuda. Anybody know where to get Dibond around here?

• I did a century in the Cuda last Saturday. 4hours. 15miles of gravel. Yep, gravel roads in a streamliner at about 25mph with a good 10-20mph South crosswind. Actually wasn't too bad. The gravels in Western IL are actually better than some of the "paved" roads over there.

• Other news: I paid off my last credit card, YAY! Now all I have left is the Cuda and the Suby to pay off. Cuda should go quick, I hope.

• New recommended music:
• Radiodread: Radiohead Rasta, nuff said.
• Brandi Carlile: wow
• Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy's Adieu False Heart: Beautiful. A little sad if you listen too closely.
• East Village Opera Company: high power rock and roll opera
• Any James Brown you can get your hands on: respect

DG

Tag

So I was tagged by Amanda. Normally chain mail goes in the trash, but it is Amanda's 20th birthday so .... i suppose it's the thought that counts. Six interesting things you may not know about me, hmm.

1) I have a somewhat obsessive personality, with very few compulsive influences. Everything I do is typically thought over many times whether it be purchases, hobbies, or life in general. When I am interested in something I explore every facet of it. With these traits I can attribute most of my success(cycling) and failure(relationships).

2) I've been on wheels nearly since birth. In my early childhood I spent a year or two recovering from having my legs crushed in a farm accident by pedaling around the house on a tricycle. I started riding atvs when I was 12 and was bored with that by highschool when I picked up my first real bike, a 1979 Raliegh Gran Prix. First century(on the gravel roads around my house) when I was 16.

3)I have broken three bike frames and three separate forks in the last 15 months, yet I have never knocked a wheel out of true more than 1/4". One of those frames was the 1979 Raliegh during a cross race last year. I miss that bike.

4)I used to be easily mistaken for a hippie. My first vehicle was a 1966 VW microbus with a 1/4" of finger paint on it(I still have it) and my hair was down to my waist. However I have never done any drugs, took one year to explore alcohol and found it repulsive(aside from its moral negatives), and never had a grade lower than a B- (aside from band, skipped the individual practices, too shy) and made Deans list 3 out of 4 semesters while acquiring my associates in precision machining.

5)I own five VWs, a Suburu, enough parts to assemble at least three more VWs, 4 mtbs, two road bikes, and two streamlined recumbents. Half of my uprights are single speeds.

6) I couldn't swim until two years ago and I still can't tread water. I decided I should learn about a year after buying my kayak when I decided I would like to try a few triathlons.



There you go, that was really more than six things, but I told you I was obsessive.
Now go tag yourself.

DG

Welcome to winter

So, it decided to be winter now. Two weeks ago i did a night ride in shorts, today I ordered a set of Lake winter boots and Craft Lobster gloves. More shopping for wool and windstopper yet to come.

The snow is nice to see, if not somewhat ironic(I sold my snowmobile last year, hence snow this year). I'm thinking about buying some CX skis, but I wouldn't want to scare the snow away.

This fall's racing has been somewhat of a bust for me. I think I left my fitness in September, I just hope its waiting for me in March, maybe i can sneak some in February. In the mean time I've been doing the fixie-cross bit. Still good with the barrier sections, but man am I dieing on the runups. Time for a cardio overhaul this winter.

Next season is going to be a little different. Back to my roots, grow a few new ones.

So far on the calendar:
Feb 17/18 Sebring 24hour RAAM Qualifier on the bent
feb 25th Landal hmbcs #1
End Of March Ouachita Challenge
April 14/15 Crowderfest

Transiowa8-29-07
May 7, 6 hours of Platte River
May 19th dirty KANZA
June 3rd Landal
July 4th Firecracker 50
End of July Wilderness 101

august 18th Landal 6/12
August 25th Endurance 100
September 1st S + M 100
the rest of the mtb100 series
Maybe the Laramie Enduro
and some other assorted ultras

Hope to do some sweet riding in new places. Maybe meet a few folks. Spend some time with old friends.

And then there's the HPRA series
and UMCA events on the bent.
Unfaired recumbent hour record.
Finish building a few more bents for myself and others.
Organize the Hawkeye Downs HPRA again this year, coordinated with the Velomobile gathering in CR.
Hope to find a little time for another state crossing or two, a
good brevet or two, maybe even a little touring if I find the opportunity.

Many long miles into the wind to be had this winter. The story of my midwest roots lie therein.

DG