ROCK "THE FARM"

Throw down at the "Farm", the trails here are sweet twisty single track and the PAMBA folks put on a great race. HOWIE, you WILL race this weekend!!! You gotta beat those young punks down! Farmdale Reservoir Recreation Area Bittersweet Rd. Washington, IL About This Event PAMBA's Farmdale Frenzy I-74 XC & BigHit DH and MTX consists of: June 9th - The first of two Downhill and Mountain Cross races for 2007, and...June 10th - Frenzy Cross Country MTB Race, Race #2 in the I-74 Homegrown Race Series. DH/MTNX Categories June 9th - Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Downhill Race has been CANCELLED! Mudslides and standing water from spring rains have closed access for shuttle and emergency vehicles. We are sorry for any inconvenience. This situation should be resolved before the Sept. race. MTX is still a go!! There will be novice and advanced categories. Practice runs will begin at 3 p.m. and will be single elimination style tournament until the top three remain. XC CATEGORIES June 10th - Frenzy Cross Country MTB Race. No divisions or age groups for First Timer's Race. Novice and Sport Age Groups in both Male and Female Categories: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40 and up. Expert will only be divided by gender- NO age groups. This race can be used as a qualifier for inclusion in the I-74 Homegrown Race Series. You must attend/complete 4 of the 6 scheduled races for 2007 to be considered for Series contention. For 2007, you're finishing position against ALL racers in your class determines your points for that race. DH/MTNX Awards Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category in each event. Gift Certificates, to local bike shops, will also be awarded to top three finishers. XC AWARDS Expert: Cash payout for top three finishers in both Male and Female categories. Sport: Medals and Bike Shop Gift Certificates to top three finishers in all age groups by gender division. Novice: Medals for top three finishers in all age groups by gender division. First Timers: some good swag.

Tuesday Nights..

Tuesday night roadie/racer/wannabee ride map for shits and giggles :) Pretty cool website

Don't neglect your chain rings...

I only had 4000 miles on this chain ring, surely its got one more little climb in it? "HOUSTON, WE ARE GO AT THROTTLE UP" I'm a loser baby, so why don't ya kill me? The Green Mile?

The more things change...

I had an adventure getting this one Large animals and sheet metal don't mix... From Jersey Devil to Amityville Horror, here we go again!

SHOCKING...

I can't help but WHINE about the price of gas, CRIPES! a day of racing is approaching $150.00 anymore. Yeah I know I'm driving a brick with wheels but $3.10 a friggin gallon??? Any takers on 2nd quarter 2007 profits for Exxon, the figure from last year was $10 billion, thats "B" for BILLION, and "P" for PROFIT. Thats after all the bills are paid kids. In a three month period thats $1300.00 per second give or take. (Don't trust my math, my calculator only goes to 1,000,000,000) On a lighter note next week is bike to work week, I may actually do it a couple times. So if I'm in meetings all week, I better apologize for the funky smell now. Who knows, it could speed them up a little.

BUZZKILL...

Its always good to hit the road with friends, just a bunch of like minded folks turning the pedals, great fun! I finished the evening with a successful deer hunt! PETA CAN KISS MY ASS! The "usual suspects" OR "Any given Tuesday" OR a new hit show called "Operation Puerto" Amanda gives a shout out to "Peace Guy" Scott Murphy, Somewhere off the coast of China I'm sure that riding one handed snapping pics is perfectly safe peloton educate! There were three Deer, I tried for the hat trick but missed the other two... GODDAMMIT!

Need a Ride for your Bride???? For Sale!

2004 TREK 2100 ZR9000 Frame w/OCLV Fork and Seat Stays 52cm Cateye Computer $800.00

So far so GOOD...

Testing out the knee the past couple of days with some short rides, still hurts to climb or really push a big gear, also each revolution you can hear an audible "CLICK" but it appears to be every other revolution now. During the winter I attempted (notice I said that) some snowboard tricks that I could not stick, now my shoulder is STILL hurting, that one is really getting annoying and frustrating. OK WHINE OFF. Dehns is ROCKIN and firming up nicely, and Memorial day is fast approaching, I'll leave you with some stolen pics from Sylvan Island for your veiwing pleasure.

Oh shucks...

This is Sylvan Island, somewhere there are pieces of my right knee lying around, I think this is a Trans Iowa 3 ending injury, it sounds like someone is enjoying a nice bowl rice crispy's when I bend it now. More on that later, I just hope its not a season ender. This just in, they are installing a new cell tower at Dehn's, it could effect the "bridge of death" trail, we'll have to see how close they come to it. Maybe the next time I post it will be GOOD news... Also I apologize to any youngsters who witnessed my crash, there may have been a few choice words uttered as I hit the deck right in front of a bunch of spectators...potty mouth anyway. They call me BRUUUUUUCE Amanda alone and out front The "Hammer" and Jeremiah Tryin to hold em off, pre knee plant (photos taken by Conner Brakeville, also on the mend)

This is SPRING?

Skeeter Park in Burlington "Oh I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK, I sleep all night and I work all day" Nice and cold this weekend, had to ride in the morning while it was still frozen cause when it warmed up we had GOO for trails. Speaking of trails, Dehn's is lookin really good after team ATLAS and I did massive trail maintenance on Sunday. We were able to remove the last of the deadfall trees, clean the ENTIRE 5+ miles, and we even got to ride our handy work afterwords. Needless to say that without Tracy, Amanda and Nick it would have been a long trail to rake, MANY thanks Kids!!! I will post pics when I figure out my "new" camera, The old one quit working after I drop...oops I mean it just quit working, trying to take a picture of a proverbial flock of seagulls eating turds from the gambling boat, thanks to the walton family heirs for replacing it for me! The Sylvan Island Stampede is this Sunday Hope to see all the usual suspects from IOWA and ILLINOIS.

Goods and bads...

Good = nice new single track to connect the bypass from last year Good = First rappel! the first step is always the hardest. Good = Climbing the Tower at Horn feild campus in Macomb Bad = Trees are still coming down in Dehn's Bad = I just finished trail maintenance a day earlier, soft soil, old trees.

Heavy stuff

I'm starting to hate the news, more so now than ever. Rather than go into a long rant about the crap that passes as important "need to know" news items, I thought I'd let TOOL sum up my feelings about it. Watch about 15 minutes of CNN and this song makes complete sense. Vicarious (10000 days- TOOL) eye on the TV 'cause tragedy thrills me. Whatever flavour it happens to be like; Killed by the husband, drowned by the ocean, shot by his own son, she used the poison in his tea and kissed him goodbye. thats my kinda story. Its no fun 'til someone dies. Don't look at me like I am a monster. Frown out your one face but with the other. Stare like a junkie into the TV. Stare like a zombie. While the mother holds her child' watches him die. Hands to the sky crying why oh why? 'Cause I need to watch things die ...from a distance Vicariously I, live while the whole world dies. You all need it too, don't lie. Why can't we just admit it? We won't give pause until blood is flowing. Neither the brave nor bold, writers of stories sold. We won't give pause until blood is flowing. I need to watch things die. ...from a good safe distance. Vicariously I, live while the whole world dies. You all feel the same so why don't you just admit it? Blood like rain come down Drawn on grave and ground. Part vampire, part warrior. Carnivore and voyeur. Stare at the transmittal. Sing to the death rattle. Credulous at best your desire to believe in angels in the hearts of men. Pull your head on out, your head believes it give a listen. Shouldn't have to say it all again. The universe is hostile, so impersonal. Devour to survive, so it is. So its always been. we all feed on tragedy, its like blood to a vampire. Vicariously I, live while the whole world dies. Much better you than I.

Water & Rock

It only rained two inches in 70 miles, never carry electronic equipment in a thunderstorm... CUJO takes a pull! Until the lightning started, then he bailed I know you can't read it, is says "impassable during high water" hell it wasn't even up to my hubs... When you come to a fork in the road, take it...yeah thanks for nothin YOGI "DUUUUDE, is that KERKOVE?" "No way Holmes, Kerkove's in GREEN this year".

Dirt First

No not "EARTH first" but close, nice to be on the trails last night, just a little spongy but NO MUD. Makes you work for the miles! The bypass, this will be a roller coaster ride when its hardpack!!! Still have some work to do, but its 95% A-OK First blood! Too many sticks to avoid...

CODY Race 1

We need MORE DICE guys!!! (photos stolen from Bryan Moritz)www.bryanmoritzcycling.com I've done this race three years in a row now, the first two years I finished with the exact same numbers 1:08 @ 18.5 MPH, this year I was able to knock it down to 1:03 @ 19.5 MPH. Not stunning by any means but better than the previous two...

Whats that sound?...

All over the midwest, on any given Tuesday, hundreds of cabin fever cyclists took to the streets. In every city and town, on paved roads or gravel, the sounds of freewheels buzzing and folks clipping into their pedals. The return of the "TUESDAY NIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS", (where ever your respective world is) signals the coming season. Of course the motorists love to see everyone riding again, and judging by the amount of honking horns, half rolled down window screaming, and pedal--to-the-metal drive byes, they to welcome this annual parade of lycra as well!! Now I gotta wait for the trails to dry out and begin a major clean up after the ice. Scott County Park on Sunday! Viva le bike!

Changes

If anyone has ever seen the movie "Little Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman you'll know where I'm coming from. In one of my former lives I was a Hunter, Ducks, Geese, Turkey, anything and everything. I enjoyed it then as much as I enjoy Biking today. But things change, what I once thought I couldn't live without, I now have only fond memories of; great times afield with family and friends. I still search the sky when I hear Geese off in the distance, I can still identify ducks on the wing just by their flight patterns. The adventure of navigating the river during pitch black frosty mornings when the constellations in the sky provide you your only directions STILL haunt my dreams. Today I said goodbye to one of the last remaining partners I had on those long ago hunts. My Chesapeake Bay Retriever Moses, going on 13 years he was graying like a distinguished gentleman, a little less bounce in his step and few more pounds on his rump, but always ready to go with tail swooshing. Although his spirit never left him, his health did, and I had to take him on his last boat ride this morning. G'bye Old man. Odessa's Mighty Moses 1995 - 2007

EYE SEVENTY FOUR...BINGO!!!!

Super cool series hosted by the Midwest's best!

Racing Returns in March

Coming up March 18th, DICE presents the first of two (road) races, named for the famous Buffalo Bill Cody. (although I'm not sure of the connection to skinning Bison in the old west and racing bikes now-a-days) but whatever! This is normally THE first race of the season for me and gets that initial ass-kickin out of the way early! Kinda looking forward to it, just hope the weather cooperates. You may have noticed my distinctly negative tone above. FEAR NOT, I got a line on some new coaching techniques by the Zen Master of human powered vehicles. Forget intervals, hill repeats, spinervals, all that is OLD SCHOOL. I highly recommend grabbing that hot little mastercard and spend that money where it counts! This is the BEST DAMN coaching program I've ever seen. You could be as good as me someday :) Mattonne

TIT's (trans iowa trainin-sucka)

Sunday was another fight to get some gravel miles in, the weather here has been a pain in the ass as of late. I don't know if I'll be ready for T.I.3 or not but its coming up quickly. Sundays ride was 60+ miles, I'm still trying to determine just exactly what I should be wearing on the "race", cause once again I got REALLY cold during a pit stop along the way, maybe my pace was too high (time/speed being relative to the observer) I know that I'm nobody's endurance racer, still, after Trans Iowa is done I'm going to try the 24hr event at seven oaks this year, just for the fun of it. All that aside I'm gonna continue to focus on "regular" XC events, 30 miles and OUT. Sounds like a new MTV program. Mattonne Some picturesque Iowa farmland,(sigh) accessible only by MILES OF FRIGGIN GRAVEL! Now I gotta clean it up AGAIN...

Spoke too soon...

Dehn's trails are not as bad as I thought they would be...They are a thousand times worse. I tried a night ride last night, and after I had logged 3.2 miles in an hour and a half, and somewhere along the way ripped my cycle computer wire in two, destroyed my neoprene shoe covers, hopped on and off the bike more times than a cyclocrosser in a season, I gave up. I'm thinking saturday I'll hike the entire trail toting a chain saw...yaaaah!

Ice Storm...Film at 11:00

Its nice to be back in the age of electricity again, funny that no matter how long the power is out you STILL hit the light switch out of reflex. THANK GOD I bought a camping coffee perculator this summer. I gotta have my JAVA!! Its depressing that almost every tree in our neighborhood is jacked up. I went for a walk during the storm, between the ice and the wind the sound of the trees snapping under the stress was spooky, when MOTHER NATURE is in control you get a sense of how powerless people really are. Theres also still thousands without power so I'm considering myself lucky. Stay warm everybody!!! Heres what we grabbed at Hy-Vee before they closed the doors! OOOH we're survivalists! (we already had the cat, Missus Brakeville rescued this animal during a training ride, he is aptly named; "Roadie") Having lots of camping gear is a plus, mac-n-cheese, tuna, peas, by lamplight. by the way, its now 50 degrees inside...and falling. Almost every tree in Burlington is FUBAR, Dehns is no exception, after my home was warmed up I did a little trail maintenance. A whole lot more in the next few days..

Approaching "Normal" again

Rode the road last night, first time back on any bike in a week, did 20 miles of Dominic's route. My kiddo was able to go home last night to his own bed, and is doing great considering his injuries, never is the sun so bright or the sky so blue than after being stuck in a hospital bed for awhile. During my ride I ran into one of Burlingtons (newest) finest, Police Officer Blake Cameron, I wonder if he'll get the bike patrol this summer. He better not bust me for going the wrong way up Snake Alley! If your planning on a trip to Burlington, ya better not mess around cause theres a new Sheriff in town ya hear? "Yer tail lights busted"

Seat Belts, Air Bags, and Miracles

I didn't ride a bike over the weekend. my Son and his Girlfriend were headed home from school Friday night right into a small blizzard, ice and schulers corner on HWY 99, two cars, twisted metal, cold, fire, "jaws of life", shattered bones, orthopedic surgeons, hospital food, titanium rods, staples, morphine, pain, two young kids, way too young for this...lets just say I'm more gray than I was. Both Kids are doing as well as can be expected. They are both ALIVE. Thank GOD...

I forgot my camera

If I would have remembered, you would have seen STUNNING shots of this weeks computranier race, where I about lost my Hardee's breakfast bisquit. Then I went to the log rollers, these things really ARE the devil. You would have seen how these logs can shake loose your fillings, not to mention your knees, ribs, shoulders etc. I would have snapped a few photo's of the sunday group ride, where Dennis WOW'ed em in Denmark with his HPV streamliner (AKA the flying Banana) FARMERS are too cool! I tried to explain that underneath all the body work Denny actually has a motor, and although its not good, farting inside the Banana is rarely fatal. It was way warmer (at least 40 degrees warmer) and we put in a good 40+ miles. Blogs are much more entertaining with pics so next time I won't forget the gravy. Its supposed to snow 4-8 more inches tonight...anything to keep me off the gravel...crap.

Running with the DEVIL

According to the keepers of the faith this is the face of the DEVIL I've already put in a living room century on this torture device for February, so the devil made me do this last night. 11 degrees, solid ice base covered in 3 inches of new powder, 7 miles in 1 1/2 hours. Don't forget Saturday at Donnies The second DICE roller race, computrainer race, LOG rollers all at a comfy 72 degrees!

All Apologies...

The three or four people who actually visit this site may remember my off the cuff rant about Greg Lemond, circumstances what they were at the time, (Landis in trouble) I just couldn't help it. I'm not even gettin into a doping debate here but just to show how Greg and I have reached common ground. I purchased one of his bikes. Its the "poprad Disc" cyclocross-er. Yeah I know, the seasons already over and its about 9 months till it starts again, HOWEVER, if one were to ride say, across (around) 320 miles of gravel in the coming months this could be your weapon of choice. Since I'm in the repenting mood, Missus Brakeville would like me to retract another statement I made recently concerning her four legged companions. According to the information I received yesterday evening, these three beautiful canine specimens are of the HIGHEST pedigree, and have some sort of registration papers to prove their bloodline back 10 generations. I will not refer to these fine animals as "mutts" in the future, nor will I refer to these three Aussies as the bitch and two bastards, dumbasses, hairballs, morons, STOOPIDS (my favorite), or ANY other derogitory name. My sincere and freely given apology.

Butt wrenchin COLD!!

What do you do when its REALLY cold?? Go Hiking of course! So at +1 degree and -25 wind chills the Missus and I along with the PACK, "hiked" (more like slid) up Flint Creek from Starrs cave to Highway 61. Apparently the Beavers thought that tree was yummy, Mutt #3 TRANGO there for scale, I'm not sure how the Beavers intend to move this onto the dam they've built here but hey, whats better than a refreshing swim in your own private lake?? We didn't run into ANYBODY on our hike, not even the Tiawanese...