Going to get it!

I am going to head down to DM to get the monocog. Enough waiting. 32 X 20 on a 29er might be a bit steep for my weak and out of shape legs, but hey, I am doing this race for fun anyway. Not that I am not going to give it my all.


Flight here I come!

12 Hours of Seven Oaks

Well, just a few days to go and it will be my first 12 hour race! We will see if I can actually ride a bike for 12 hours!!! Seriously, I am not in any kind of shape right now so I will probably suck it up, but who cares. I am just going for the fun and experience. I will give it my best shot! My goal is to ride 7-8 laps depending on the course conditions. If I can do that I will be very happy. I was able to borrow some lights so hopefully everything will go well at night.

I am sorry to report there will be no Monocog, but I am getting closer to paying it off so I hope to have it in my hands by the end of September. Matt and I talked about some crazy things we could do to the bike for TI V.4 and I am very excited about it. We will see what happens! I can't wait for the training to begin. I just need to start working a bit less and for the nice, cool weather to come.

I hear the trails got beat up pretty badly at 7 Oaks, but that the race director is camping there all week to work on the trails. A buddy of mine went there this past weekend (Monday?) and found three huge trees down on the first hill and then the long flat section had been completely under water and was a mud bog. Let's hope that dries up a bit! I am confident the course will be in pretty good shape, but the trails can be pretty hard with even a bit muddy as the clay gets pretty slick.

My money is on Squirrel to take it all in the 24!

First day of school

Well, I started my 14th year of school today. My 10th as a counselor. It was a wonderful day, but I have been back the last couple of weeks working like crazy again and it looks to be another very busy year. Sometimes I feel like totally giving up any chance of trying to exercise. Yesterday I was working for 15 hours. Crazy. I am also the heaviest I have ever been. Coincidence? I am not working out at all really, but I am still considering doing the 12 hour at 24 hours of Seven Oaks. It will be funny, but I am mainly going for the beer anyway. It will depend on the rain this next week. Yes, I am a wimp.

I hope to see you guys at a DRY Seven Oaks next week.

God Made Me Do It!

That is what I will tell the wife when she finds out! %^)

Seriously, she knew that I was going to do it. Just not today.

So, I put some money down on this:


I will be paying for it in chunks so I won't have it for a while, but I finally made the move! You see. Last weekend I rode at Seven Oaks and Alex, with his Kona 29er, was flying through the trails talking about how the bike just flies through there. Just behind Alex was Cory and he was talking about how his single speed, along with the rigid fork, was maybe even better than his super tricked out Cannondale Rush. Then the next day I decided to take Cory's advice and I rode Seven Oaks in one gear. I was a little conservative as I am a spinner and not a masher so I went with 32 X 22. I think I was flying through the course faster than ever and it felt easier. Plus, Alex was riding is older Bontrager steel frame and he was going on and on about how much he loves the steel. That is it. I had to do it.

I had time today and went to Des Moines. We made a deal for $725 bucks at Scheel's (normally $899). I have four months to pay for it under their lay away program. I sure hope it doesn't take me that long!

When I was at Scheel's I took the bike out for about 30 minutes riding all over the place. I found a large rock pile from some landscaping project that was going on and I rode all over the pile. That sold me. Plus, the bike just rolled. I could definitely feel the momentum of the big wheels. It didn't slow down as fast as my 26er that is for sure.

So, I have entered the single speed, 29er world. Now I just have to be patient. I will tell you... it was hard not just charging the damn thing!

Cory Heintz

Cory is heading out to Oregon to be with his girlfriend who is entering law school. I wish them both all the luck in the world. I am sure they won't be needing it. It just seems that everything is falling into place for them. That is awesome. I will be seeing Cory again at the 24 Hours of Iowa in two weeks. I look forward to that.

Matt and I will be hitting up the trails at 5:00 pm today. If you want to come leave me a message. I am driving.

Wow!

I guess I am not the only one that had a good what in the mountains! Even the stars have to walk sometimes. What a relief! %^)