the blue colnago

2009-12-24T11:23:00.001-06:00

'Twas the night before Christmas....

I'd like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all of my cycling friends, family, and whomever else may happen upon this blog.

God bless....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-24T11:17:00.004-06:00

Ummmm.....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-23T08:17:00.011-06:00

Things....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-22T00:19:00.003-06:00

Dreams....

My good friend Jeremy Bidwell posted on Facebook that he had a dream last night in which he was doing a cyclocross race while riding a Pugsley. He qualified that by saying that he had never actually done a cross race nor had he ever ridden a Pugsley. What do our dreams really mean?

Here is my reply to him....

"I'm picturing you hefting a 40 pound Pugsley over the extra tall barriers at the bottom of an incredibly steep and long runup with hundreds of hecklers lining the course offering beer and processed meatstick handups while ringing cowbells, blowing horns, shaking tambourines, beating drums, and waving the Lion of Flanders flag..... There are dollar bills laying all over the muddy runup but you seem to be completely oblivious to them, yet, curiously, you're smiling.... I know that some people will question your sanity, my friend, but to me you are as normal as I am."

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-14T17:48:00.002-06:00

Road I.D. ....

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When I ordered, they gave me a coupon that I could pass along to my friends.

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To order, simply go to RoadID.com or click the link below:

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You can thank me later.

Oh by the way, their website is awesome, the customer service is outstanding, and the owners are very smart and good looking.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-08T06:55:00.009-06:00

More Jingle Cross Rock....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-12-06T19:45:00.021-06:00

Jingle Cross Rock....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-26T10:33:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-25T22:39:00.001-06:00

Getting ready for Jingle....

Mr. Gurd reminded me that I should probably take my bike, too.... Thanks, Buddy!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-24T07:01:00.003-06:00

I haven't given up....

I'm sure there are some people out there in the Blogosphere who might think I've given up blogging. There may be a couple who wish I would.

Well, I haven't. These past couple of months have been very busy for me. Lot's of things going on at work that have taken a lot of time and energy, and CX racing every weekend but one for the past 2 months. I'm fried.

One more weekend of racing. Jingle Cross. This coming weekend. Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday. It's going to be good. :) Everyone who races CX should attend it at least once. Huge party atmosphere. Awesome course. The very best hecklers. It's just plain fun.

Last weekend was Cedar Falls Cranksgiving on Saturday. It was a good time. Not bad for the first year. 29 participants, all of whom seemed to be having a great time. Kudos to Redg and The Thin Man and everyone else involved in organizing and sponsoring this great event. The beer at The Landmark was pretty good, too!

Sunday was the last race of the Quad Cities series. Middle Park Madness. As usual, the folks from DICE put on a great event. Special thanks to Bruce Grell and Donnie Miller and all of the folks from Dice. Also a big Thank You To Scott Swanson and his wonderful wife Kat for the officiating and registration duties. You do a great job!

That's about it for now. I'll do a photo dump one day soon. Judy has taken a ton of good pictures this year. She's gotten pretty good with the camera!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-17T17:27:00.002-06:00

Cranksgiving....

This Saturday, boys and girls.... My good friend Redgie Blanco says "Be there or be square"....

This is a wonderful cause to help provide a Thanksgiving dinner for some of those in our community who are less fortunate. This is an annual event in many communities around the country and this year Redg has made the effort to bring it to our community. Please get out there and help make this a success and have some fun while doing it! Thanks in advance for your support!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-11T07:42:00.002-06:00

Happy Veterans Day....

Approximately 10% of all living American citizens are veterans of the U.S. Military.

Approximately 1% of all American citizens are serving at any given time.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-08T20:20:00.007-06:00

71F on the 8th of November....

Geese on the pond....
The Yellow Bike....

Hartman North....

At Black Hawk Park....

"Specialized...."

A beaver dam....

Resting....

I couldn't pass up a ride today since it was 71 degrees and sunny outside. It was about the same yesterday but I didn't get out to ride then. Other things going on....

I went north on Hackett to the point that you can go into the woods on the short section of singletrack on the north side of the paved trail. When I came out on Shirey Way there was a guy standing next to the river beating a drum. I thought that was kinda weird but, hey, whatever trips your trigger.... :)

Shirey Way is different now. The last time I was in there it had just been graded. Now it is covered in new gravel. Not the smoothest surface around. Some of it is pretty big. It looks like most of the singletrack on the north side is still under water. :(

Anyway, I got to the west end of Hartman North and got back on the paved trail then headed toward Pfeiffer and into Cedar Falls. It was then out around Big Woods Lake and out to Black Hawk Park. Black Hawk is still closed to vehicle traffic and there are still logs and other debris on the roads in some places. I saw a few people out walking there and even one guy at the rifle range. That's a long walk from the main gate!

It's kinda nice being out there when no one else is around.

I rode through the park and then took the trails into Island Park and downtown Cedar Falls. It was a good ride on a beautiful day. How long do you think this weather will last?

State CX at Altoona on Saturday then Devil's Cross in Bettendorf. The season is starting to wind down. Middle Park Madness on the 22nd then Jingle Cross and it will all be over. It's been fun this year.

That's about it for now.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-03T20:36:00.022-06:00

Spooky Cross day 2

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-02T20:10:00.023-06:00

Spooky Cross Day 1, part 1....

Ring those cow bulls....

Robin Williams navigates the mud....

Darcy and Cara....

Yup, more mud....

Batgirl....

It was deep, too....

Out of the mudpit then uphill in the peanut butter....

Scott Sumpter....

Brian Eppen on the run-up....

It's all good....

Renegade crossgirls....

Look over your shoulder, Brent....

More Halloween merriment....

Gotta have some fun....

Ghost or Goblin....?

Brian Abbott....

Jackal....

Steve and Chad....

Paul Meyerman....

I'll post more pics from the 3's and the Masters later. Judy and I both took a lot of pics and they take awhile to choose....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-11-01T21:11:00.001-06:00

Spooky Cross....

Escape....

It was good!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-27T20:53:00.022-05:00

Cattle Cross....

Trouble....

Yeah, that's cow poop....

Kim....

John....

Steve Bullerman....

Steve Reynolds....

Scottie....

Fat Bastard....

Kat....

WTF....?

Karmen....

Shrek....

Brent....

Shrek....

The winner....!

Lane Anderson.....

Ummmmm......

Oakley Rob Versteegh.....

It was awesome. A great time! I loved it. Even the poop.

Ya done good, Brent! :)

Thanks Judy, for helping with the pics!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-26T21:19:00.028-05:00

Things....

The Ergon Man Midwest....
Look Ma, no hands....

Jackal....

The Queen of Cross says "Cool"....

Lots of red....

GO!

Yeah, it hurts....

The Queen and her (fat) carriage....

Scottie D....

Brian Eppen....

Steve Bullerman....

Richard Gilmore....

Steve after the runup. Yeah, he won....

Ouch....

Eppen coming around....

Jackal climbing....

Landon climbing....

Scott climbing....

Remount....

John....

Really....?

Steve wondering what he got himself into....

3 Musk-rat-ears....

Jackal....

The Corpulent One....

Yummmmmmm....

These pics, with the exception of the first two, are from Psychlofest in Bettendorf on the 25th. It was good!

Cattle Cross pics tomorrow....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-26T06:33:00.003-05:00

Survived....

Colorbiotics put on their first CX race on Saturday at the fairgrounds in Marshalltown. Wicked. :) It had rained around these parts for several days and the course had a bit of mud involved. Also a trip through an exibition hall with cow poop and sand. It was good! Plus, the girls rode at dusk and the fast guys raced after dark. It was sweet! What a great race! Kudos to Brent Hauser and all of his helpers and volunteers. Ya done good! I finished pretty close to DFL.

Sunday was Psychlofest at Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf. The course would have been tough even if it hadn't rained for several days prior to the event. It was awesome! Lots of wet, muddy grass and soft ground. The runup was killer. Steep and muddy and, just for kicks, it turned to the left and got even steeper about 2/3 of the way up. I swear that you almost scraped your nose climbing it! The folks from DICE over there in the Quad Cities always put on a great event! No disappointment with this one. DFL.

It was good.

Spooky CX in Des Moines next weekend.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-22T18:48:00.003-05:00

The weather sucks for riding....

The Queen of Cross says it's windy in Florida....
Last night before the rain came....

As the rain started....

Went out at about 5:45 or so last night for an hour and a half on the Surly 1x1. I was planning to meet The Corpulent One as he got back from a longer ride but, as it turned out, I didn't see anyone who looked like him. When I got to Big Woods it started to rain. It had been one of those thick fall mists up to that point, which turned into a drizzle, then a light shower. If it had been a July afternoon it probably would have been comfortable and welcome. Since it was a November evening it was neither. Well, it wasn't bad. Nah, actually, it was ok, since I was riding the bike outside rather than riding a bike in the basement.

Anyway, I took a few laps around the lake, just in case. There were a couple of women out walking their dogs on their 10' leashes and, of course, the leashes crossed the trail with the dogs in the grass. I never could figure out why it works that way. It was dark and wet and they were walking their dogs.... Hmmmm.... Ahhh well, the things we do for our pets:)

After I'd been out for awhile and decided that I wasn't going to meet Fatty, I headed home through Cedar Falls. I saw that The Thin Man's light was on inside the shop so I stopped to visit for a few minutes. It was good! He was getting ready to leave to go eat so I hit the road and headed home. I was definitely wet and cold and covered in mud. Probably good training for what's coming this weekend. CX in Marshalltown on Saturday, which I'm sure is going to be very, very muddy. It's all good! CX in Bettendorf on Sunday. Yup, it's raining there too.... I suspect that the hills around the Quad Cities are going to drain a little better than the race track at the fairgrounds in Marshalltown. :) I'm excited! Both will be GREAT venues.

I guess I got off track there.... After I got home and stripped out of my soaking wet clothes and dried off, I turned my 'puter on. Whoa! An email from Fatty! He started to ride but decided it was going to rain so he beat feet home ahead of the rain and drank beer. I guess he's smarter than I am, eh? I missed you, Buddy!

Jackal and Moo are still in Florida for a couple more days but Moo sent me the pic of The Queen as she was heading to the beach this morning. It was apparently a bit windy down there on the ocean! :)

That's it for now.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-20T12:43:00.004-05:00

Altoona....

Thanks to Fatty for the pic....

Altoona was good on both days. I had Fatty with me on Saturday, so that required a bit of effort to keep him out of trouble. Lions Park, which was the same venue as the Iowa State CX Championships last year. The course itself was quite similar with just a couple of small changes. Lots of climbing in the soft grass. It was good!

Sunday was cold for our race at the Youth Sports Complex in Altoona and the wind was blowing at a bit over 20mph all day. It did warm up in the afternoon but that wind was just BROOTAL! Very difficult course. I'd say the most physically demanding course so far this year. Whoa!

Anyway, it was all good.

A couple more DFL's to keep the streak alive. WOOHOO!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-16T18:59:00.000-05:00

....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-15T19:09:00.006-05:00

Thursday....

The new lights at Gateway....
Big Woods Lake....

Darned beavers....

Surly....

Kids flag football in a drizzling rain....

It was good. A bit wet, but good. Started a steady drizzle when I was about 3 miles from home....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-14T20:26:00.003-05:00

Nite ride....

My baby....
New lights along the trail at Gateway....

Wish I had a pic of Fatty shitfaced. I only have buzzed. We'll see.... ;)

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

2009-10-12T19:38:00.021-05:00

Vande Cross....

Fatty buzzed....
The fast guys....

Fatty buzzed....

The Queen of Cross....

Fatty buzzed....

Look at all the red....

Masters....

More....

Jackal....

Tough course....

Kat....

Steve....

Fast guys passing....

Steve....

John....

Richard and Scott....

Paul M. and Kat....

Landon....

Scott....

Richard....

Yes, I'm taking this serious.... (There's beer involved)

Sunday in the Quad Cities.... Moline, to be exact. Stephens Park. One of the best courses of the year. These guys put on a good race that is a blast to attend. Bruce Grell and the folks from DICE really treat you like you belong.... Great bunch of people with an obvious love of the sport!

It was a blast. Fatty challenged me via text message with an offer of beer if I put forth an effort this week. Damn! Guinness was being offered.... I rode with a bit more intensity than usual and only stopped a couple of times to chat. I had to talk to Karmen and of course I had to stop to talk to my sweetie, The Queen of Cross. She was doing handups for me. She was surprised last week in Pella when I stopped to take the bottle. "Daddy doesn't stop...." Ahhhh well. This week she seemed surprised when I took it on the fly. Gotta keep her on her toes, ya know! The Masters field totalled 21 riders, 10 in the 30+ and 40+ group and 11 in the 50+ and 60+ group. Me, I finished. Good showing, too. DFL!!!!! I think there were 10 riders from Bike Tech in attendance yesterday. Lot's of red out on course.

The 1/2/3 group raced at the same time as the Masters and I had a front row seat to watch the really, really fast guys. Wow! Brian Eppen put on a clinic, as usual. Nate, Jackal, and Kevin were tearing it up. It was good. Jackal had a 3rd place finish. Like Mark Guthart said "Podium, Podium, WOOHOO!" Steve Bullerman won the Masters 30+ class and John and Landon tore it up in the 50+ and 60+ categories. I'm sure I missed something or someone.... OOPS!

Thanks to Fatty, Moo, Chris, Queenie, and all of the Bike Tech crew for the heckling, er, I mean support out there. That's what makes it so much fun!

Thanks to Brittany, Robin, and Wanda for heckling me by the sand pile. Yes, Brittany, I was smiling!

Thanks to Bruce Grell and the DICE club and all of their volunteers for putting this show on the road. Can't forget Scott the referee. It was good!

Thanks to Judy for all the pics. Ya done good, Sweetie!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!