Trans Iowa v8

This morning at 4 a.m., with light rain and temps in the low 40s, 67 brave souls started the eighth version of Trans Iowa. It rained all day yesterday and through the nigh. Leaving the riders a 330 mile course of soaked gravel roads and unridable B roads. Sounds like fun? KC midtown resident John Welsh thought so, and is up there giving them hell.

If anyone else would like to follow along here is a link to Guitar Ted's site, where he posts audio updates through out the race.

Lab rat

Got my vo2 max tested for free today as part of a study at Rockhurst college. I'm not really sure how to reference the score of 53.3 that I got, but the guy said it was pretty good? I'll go with that.

Raced the Tour of Hermann RR last Sunday, it didn't go that great. I knew it was a hilly course, and I did a ton of hill repeats in the last 3 months, but it just wasn't enough. Right from the get go it was up up up, down, then up up again. As we crested the KOM climb, 10 miles in, I wasn't that far off the back, maybe 5 or 6 bike lengths, but I had to take 30 seconds to not puke my guts out, and in that time I was dropped big and bad. Spent the last half of the lap pushing a decent pace with Joe and a few others only to call it at the start finish. Spent the next hour or so in the Barrel Bar massaging my bruised ego with the germantown burger and a Guinness.

Bike racing has many faces, that day it was brutal and masochistic, not unlike the expression you might get from Genghis Khan or Bob Berdella just before you meet your final demise. Luckily there are are plenty of days that show you the more fun and rewarding side as well. Like last night at TNW where a couple fast guys sat in with us in the B race to help launch an attack, offer pulls, or a good lead out. Got to give it up to Mark Cole and Eric Finks for taking the time to show us B's a thing or two.

chicken fryer

buttermilk and frank's red hot
seasoned flour and hot oil

cheesy



The last few weekends I have ventured off the road and into the dirt. Racing, if you can call it that, at God's Country and Bone Bender. Both races I had pretty lackluster results, but did have a great time doing it. Both events were two more top notch promotions from Chris Locke. Covering all the details, including fried chicken and mac & cheese from your's truly. Plus drawing great crowds, both in terms of talent and character. Hanging out with friends was as much fun as riding the trails. As far as my riding went, I rode just OK. At God's country I had a hard time maintaining focus and pushing a decent pace. Bone Bender I felt better, more focused and more relaxed, for the one lap I got in.

lost in the woods

soccer dome mantra

Perry Roubaix

This race was right up my alley. The 10 mile loop featured three miles of gravel, one steep climb and the rest was pleasantly rolling and curvy roads along the lake. The weather was fairly ideal, if not a little hot. Plus a giant lilac bush that was blooming right on course was sweet relief, especially after sitting on mark horn's wheel. I loved all of it.

The race went pretty good, although not at all as I suspected. The gravel section was more of a factor than I thought. A freshly graded section of gravel, full of large chunky rocks was blowing out tires left and right. With all the flats, lack of good lines, and a decent pace up front, the field was blown apart half way into the first lap. After it all settled, I ended up chasing the lead two with Mark Horn and Jeff Baker. We worked well together before we lost Mark to a flat. With a lap and a half to go I started lose power and was unable to hold Jeff's wheel. I continued on solo fighting off some of the worst cramps I've experienced in a while. The last lap I was a pretty anxious, not able to give it all, while constantly looking over my shoulder for other riders. Luckily I never saw any others. I crossed the line for 4th, earning a $20 dollar pay out. I was happy with that.

It was a unique race that really enjoyed and will definitely look forward to next year.