The Breaking Point

I pretty much found it last night on the way home. If you've traveled with me you know it can be mentally taxing. Well, maybe even if you haven't traveled with me you know that. Anyway, we had been in the car for about 2 hrs and Jordan and Lisa were, well, sick of me. Jordan had her head in her hands trying to keep it together from listening to me and the DVD the girls were watching for the 4th time, Lisa was all done with me as well. I suggest going to Culvers for a post race celebration scoop of custard. Minimal effect on getting back out of the abyss I've put myself in. Ordering what everyone wanted turned into a major production and I'm falling deeper into said abyss. We pull up to the window to get our goodies and I'm all like "haaaaaaayyyy" to the girl and everyone busts out laughing, tears and all. It was great. I came rocketing out of the abyss into rock stardom in no time flat. Damn I'm smooth. Custard was good, too.
So sometimes when the girls are too loud we play this game where we see who can be quiet the longest. Great game. If you know Jordan you know how little she tends to talk. Sometimes we go 2 hrs in the car and don't hear a word out of her. Put her in the Who Can Be Quiet game and she cracks like an egg! She was the first one out and she wasn't very happy about it either. LOSER!
Oh, we raced this weekend too. Went better than expected for me. 5th place overall. Another great showing by Lisa with yet another 2nd place. Kylie won the kids race. Thanks to the Team for another great weekend!

New to me

I finally made it to Cam-Rock to ride. It was pretty ok. Bryan and I rode some moderately paced laps out there and honed our skills to a fine sharp edge for this weekends race in the tightest singletrack we race on all year.
New CX bikes are on the way. Hopefully it is possible to buy speed.

The Ramble

I really like this place. It's so fast and the singletrack is pretty forgiving as well. Perfect for me! Race started out ok, got bad for a bit and then was ok again. Ben Koenig killed it on the 2nd lap, I barely was holding on. We caught up to Chris and chased for almost 2 laps. Finished in my normal spot, 7th place. Lisa got her first win! I was finished with my race and then I found out she was in the lead in hers. Then I got nervous. She held it together and cruised in. A good day.

Best pre ride meal

Half a bag of super fresh, squeaky cheese curds and half a box of cocoa pebbles. Mmm.

Go fast, eh?

Anothere great weekend to race bikes! We dropped the girls off in Pulaski and kept on heading North to Marquette, Michigan. I felt like Jesse Bell for a while except I only do this drive once, maybe twice a year not almost every weekend. He probably doesn't stop in Pulaski, either. Anyway, we finally got hooked up with the 212 crew and feasted at Tom and Jackie's place, (thanks again!). After a few trips to the breakfast buffet at the Big Boy (ugh.) on Saturday morning it was go time. Start was fast, water was deep, came close but didn't quite make it all happen for the team. Good job by all, though. The 212 girls rocked it as well. I made some memories for us in the final miles as once again! If you want to know, you'll have to ask. Then it was back to Tom and Jackie's for drinks. I found out Tim can make a mean African-Russian!
So at the awards, the anouncer lady says "Our second oldest competitor up there(there being the top 20), in 8th place, blah blah blah". Now, I know that's probably supposed to be a compliment but I kinda felt like I was just called "Big Boned" instead of fat.
Chris made us late for the group ride Sunday morning but the trails had us all smiling ear to ear! A guided tour of some sweet singletrack including riding on top of a huge pipe. What the heck was/is the pipe for, anyway? Then it was time to head back to the Twin Cities (Leland and Denzer) and get ready for another race weekend coming up. Back to Green Bay for Reforestation. It's gonna' be sweet!

If all goes well

This is the start of a long block of races. 8 weekends on the road. Should be interesting. It's gonna be a hot one tomorrow, 90+ degrees they say. Hopefully I don't get another stick in the derailleur like I did in practice today. We took the overly scenic way up to River Falls today. Went up Hwy. 14 to LaCrosse then took 35 the rest of the way here. It was something I have always wanted to do and I probably won't do again. It was an extra 1:40 minutes to get here! Oh, well. At least we got to eat at Rocky's!

Nice Weekend, eh?

Saturday I actually got to ride with Lisa and I liked it. I'm not sure if I'm weak, Lisa's strong or we're both ok but I did a 90 minute sweet spot effort with her glued to my wheeel. I was more happier (yes, I said more happier) about that than she was, I think. Then it was off to a birthday party where I ate too much. Sunday was another nice ride. Then Lisa took off to go up to the USA Cycling Junior Development camp deal in Lacrosse. NO, she's not a camper, she's helping coach it. After some more house chores it was off to another party where I again, ate too much. Seems to be a trend for me lately. So it's me and the girls this week while Lisa is off living the fun and carefree life of being a coach. Too bad it's going to be so warm this week as I heard the dorms don't have a/c. I'm looking forward to next weekends race, it seems so long ago since the last one. Then it's 8 weeks straight at least of MTB races, maybe 10. Then 'cross is going strong 'til November. Wow.