A continual work in progress

The weather kept things interesting this past week. Add in all my normal scheduling constraints and that landed me on the trail Friday evening. Nate and I headed up to Merrell for some trail riding.

The parking lot was fairly typical with about 10-15 cars and no riders in sight. We headed out to start our loop. After getting thru the first section we started the Mix Master section to the picnic table. The dirt....was amazing. I was getting all kinds of grip in the corners which was making me want to push some. Mind you, push the corners....not push the ride. We continued on to Wynalda and more of the same conditions...HERO dirt. After a solid first lap Nate headed home. I threw my leg back over the bar for another lap.

I found my rhythm and was just enjoying the ride. I took Phazer again when I saw another rider take Siren. I beat him to the intersection. lol. I was crusing pretty good and he must have been surprised by the section. Anyway, he passed me right away and I made my way back to Wynalda. Not my favorite loop, but the entire trail was just great. When I came off Wynalda I made my way back to the shortcut up to the picnic table where Phaser and Siren merge with Mix Master. I was chatting with a few guys about riding and they were interested in Siren. I led, and crushed them on the descent. Downhill is my friend. lol. I finished up my ride and was feeling pretty good.

Sunday I headed up to Cannonsburg Ski area to meet Nate and Pears. I don't know why I let him talk me into riding there....so much climbing. I guess the only way for me to climb faster is to climb...and get faster. The first climb gassed me, and I was ready to just bomb back down the hill, load up my bike, and go home. lol. I didn't, but that thought crossed my mind. I recovered and pressed on. Again, the dirt was fantastic. SO much grip made me want to ride hard...until the next climb. lol. 

We chugged away and eventually reached the downhill to the finish. I wanted to ride more, but the legs were not in the mood. We all headed home to start the rest of our days.

Overall it was a good couple days of riding. Nutrition....that took a slight hit this week as I struggled to eat healthy all week. I would eat one healthy meal, and then pile in a few cookies or some chips. This is ok, as long as I don't go back to old habits. I started off today back on track and plan to continue thru the week. So while I did gain this week, it was only 2 lbs. That could simply be water gain, or the junk that I ate. The good part is that I lost for the previous 5 weeks so I am still ahead of the game and my mind is right. I just didn't have a good week, that doesn't mean I am totally derailed. 

Hanson Hills Challenge Recap

As I was awaking from my slumber I could hear the rain pouring on the roof. The sound was so intense that I could hear it over my window air conditioner. I thought right then....just stay in bed. Instead I got up and checked the weather while waiting to hear back from Nate and Matt. Knowing Matt was pre-registered I figured he would go regardless. The weather looked like it would clear, so I loaded up in the rain. I put The D.U.F.F. inside the suburban and started the journey north. 

It was raining the whole way to Grand Rapids. I pulled off the highway and we loaded 2 more bikes in the suburban before continuing the long jaunt to Grayling. The rain let up as we got north of Grand Rapids and we traveled along the edge of the dry line the whole way to Kalkaska. The trip up was uneventful, which is always good. We rolled into Hanson Hills just after 9am and started to get the lay of the land. 

First indicator, the area looked like Cannonsburg Ski area, just a bit longer and taller. The temps were in the mid 50's and the sky was super grey, but no rain was falling. Matt took off at 10, so Nate and I wandered around a bit while we waited for him to finish. 

Final descent to the finish area

Then it was our turn. I lined up with 6 other guys to start my 2 laps. I was feeling pretty relaxed and my plan was to jump on JC's wheel and see what happened. It was time to go and the group started toward the first climb. Pace was as expected, quick. I am not a fast starter so I just found my place toward the back and counted as we hit the single track. I was in 5th. So far so good....but a long way to go. 

The first climb is not as bad as I thought it would be...until it was. I stalled on the last steep section and had to walk the rest. JC rolled past putting me into 6th place. I jumped in behind him and figured I would hold on as long as I could. He was having a rough go today. Some adverse effects from some cold medicine. That helped me hold on! I rode on his wheel the whole first lap. I could feel that I was stronger on the climbs but I wanted to make sure I was actually feeling stronger, and not blow up only to get dumped on the second lap.

Photo by Jack Kunnen

JC and I passed the line together at the end of the first lap. He moved over and I took the lead. Once we hit the first climb I started to open a gap. I got to that same little kicker and had to get off. When I looked back I could see him coming, but I had no interest in waiting. I forged ahead with all I had. I kept looking over my shoulder, fully expecting to see JC coming, but nobody ever did. I rode alone for all but about a mile of that second lap. Climbing hills with what little power I had left. Then the wind started to pick up. I was trying to see the sky but it didn't look dark. The wind got gustier and then the rain started. A sprinkle at first. So I put down what power I had left to get to the finish. I saw the last climb and I was slowly making my way to the top when the skies opened. I bombed down a descent and then over the last rise before breaking out to the finish area. Head down, mashing the pedals and the rain just pouring. Not a warm rain, cold. I rounded the last corner and could hear the awesome troop of girl scouts cheering me on, so I stood and mashed to the finish line.

Not really caring where I finished at this point I rode right to the truck and we got the bikes inside. I changed and headed to check my finish. 5th place on a very tough course and a rival defeated (even if by medicine) made for a very good day on the bike for me. The ride home was long, but the day was well worth the trip. Nate finished 1st in his class, Matt took a solid 2nd in his class, and I cracked the top 5 for the first time in a long time. 

I did move into top 5 in CPS points as well. I know that will change, but if I can keep up the top finishes I might just be ok!

Memorial day ride

I planned on riding with Nate and Pears on Sunday....but my body had other plans and decided to complete a full purge. Enough about that...onto Memorial day.

I wanted to ride and any type would have been good for me. So I put out some feelers and my teammate DW said he was doing a Kal-Haven from Kalamazoo to Bloomingdale and back. That would be about 36 mile flattish ride on the old peat gravel rail trail. We picked up another rider in Brian. He has LJ100 in a few weeks, and needed some miles. Company is always better on a ride. 

We started at 7am, because forecast was saying mid 90's for a high. I was on The D.U.F.F., Brian on his FS Salsa, and DW on his FS salsa with Plus tires. We figured it would just be a cruise. In fact, we all stated "we are on mountain bikes so we are not riding fast".

We started off and I just found a comfortable pace to ride. DW dropped in behind me and Brian followed. I was comfortable with the pace...that was between 15 and 16mph. I want to say that is what we averaged the whole way to Bloomingdale. It was a solid pace the whole way there.

Then we headed back. Strangely enough I found a rhytm again and just pedaled until I heard DW say "hey, I hate to break your cadence but we need a bathroom break". To be honest, at this point I wasnt sure if they were with me or if I was riding alone. All flat and gravel means you just kind of cruise and hit your own pace, with the potential to leave people behind. I know I am not strong enough to do that, but I was holding a steady pace.

After the short break we were back at it and making the final climb up to Kalmazoo. I could feel my heart rate climbing, but I just kept chugging away. We rolled into the 10th street lot with an average of 14.3 mph for 36 miles. Solid. They both thanked me for leading the way and we went about our days.

Sunday a few of us are headed to Hanson Hills where I will do my best to imitate a fast rider. There is a lot of climbing so it doesn't suit me well, but turnout seems to be low so my chances of a higher finish are better.  Keep riding!