MIDWEST MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

This year, The PREMIER event in Mountain Biking will be held at Farmdale (Peoria) Reservoir.

Check out the link for dates and event times. The trails at Farmdale are awesome to ride and race anyway. The Peoria Area Mountain Bikers have created and MAINTAIN at least three sweet trail systems in this region and play host to a number of the "I-74" series events including gettin your DOWNHILL and FOURCROSS on, as well as some of the most technical XC racing around, in fact, I ended my "bar-end" phase at Farmdale after one too many hook-ems on schrolls trail!! Follow the links kiddo's for some early spring action in the Land Of Lincoln

Snow...in JANUARY?

Rico Suave' on wheels...blah

Jill in Alaska rides like this EVERY day...

Attacked by the wolf pack...

WOW, check out the speed. Riding in 5" of snow, one handed, while

shootin pics

Roller Racing

Tater Enjoys this.

Or if your REALLY frisky , try the log rollers!!!

Donnies Indoor Cycling Experience

Owwwwieeeee...

Wrong Kinda Miles...

Some Folks get to go to VEGAS for work...not me. Can you guess where I am, hint "its a TWISTER"!!!

"kerkove" shot

The TRANS IOWA crew was talking about virgin goats, well them's goats but I'm not sure of their sexual status. They looked relatively untouched...also for your viewing pleasure the climb up Stoney Hollow road.

Mattonne

I'm not a Carpenter

Its been three years since we moved into our house and aside from some painting and minor repairs I've had to do very little in the way of any serious changes. One of the main reasons we picked this house in the first place was the previous owners had done everything before they moved, the one place that wasn't finished was the attic. A full third story, completely open, one BIG room with high ceilings that slope down to the floor. The Missus and I envisioned a climbing wall built into the larger ceiling panels, a cool place to literally "hang out" with the family. Well if the weather ever gets crappy enough I'm going to start this project, and add a "spinervals" section as well. ALL our outdoor stuff will eventually make it up there, a place for everything and everything in its place. I hope it rains alot or this project will never get done...

Sometimes...you gotta!

The Mrs. has always been understanding of my cycling addiction, if this were a 12 step program she might even be referred to as, an "en-abler". Going to watch a mountain bike race is like watchin paint dry, but she's been to more than a few, even gets her RACE ON once in awhile. So when your best friend and lady asks you to participate in one of HER activities its hard to say no. So i found myself in front of the TV doing a workout from the "FIRM", yeah... Needless to say my rhythm and dance skills are pathetic at best, and if any trained emergency responders had been around they would have assumed I was having some sort of seizure. I will say the "abs" workout was actually killer and I was sweatin like hell. My kids could only stare in that wide-eyed teenager sort of way that says "GOD, I hope my friends don't see this". Now do I really want that new 'Cross bike or a two stage fanny lifter step and a set of velvet covered weights???

New Year

Since I'm a technophobe we didn't have a DVD player until 2006, I figured for 2007 I'd finally break down and get a digital camera. Some shots of a new years eve hike around Geode and Bike Burlingtons New Years day ride. My Father in law testing out his brand new TREK pilot, full carbon with SPA. Good on ya Bubba!!!

Gearing Up...

Had to get some needed gear this winter, although I did NOT get the Cateye Triple shot Pro that I wanted, (been waiting for 3 months now) I ended up getting a Nite Rider light. For those of you old enough, The Night Rider was the "Toe Cutter's" right hand man in MAD MAX, not to be confused with David Hasselhoff as Michael Night and "Kitt". If I have to associate that name with anything I'd prefer "mid-NIGHT Rider" from the Allman brothers. Names aside its the same light that I borrowed earlier this fall from Tater and it kicks ass! More than I wanted to spend but its awesome when cars actually wait before turning directly in front of you, and its almost overkill in the woods . Mr. 24 also recommended a bar map holder for TRANS IOWA, jeesh its only 8 bucks so I got one of those as well. Now all I have to do to win T.I.V3 is pay someone jacked on testosterone to impersonate me during the race and all is well. Needless to say I'll be outside instead of inside, sweating on the trainer. Might have to talk the Mrs. into a gravel road ride for 1/1/07. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!

I'd rather be riding...

...But I'm at work STILL, this whole "work thing" is starting to effect my riding.

320 to 330 miles...

TRANS IOWA V.3 Oh boy here we go. I didn't wait in front of the tube staurday for the roster to be posted. I figured me an the Milkman were in so I decided to put the rubber on the gravel. Two things became apparent during that ride, 1. Its gonna be a LONG way, even though I only did 50 miles of gravel, I was going TOO fast, yeah I know I'm talkin about Me but keeping a 14 mph average heading back to town on the "bottoms" nearly killed me as the south wind was gusting to 25. I finally completed a route to Oakville that is gravel all the way there and back. Also found out that the climb up stony hollow road is indeed an honest two miles, into the wind its too easy to sweat it up then freeze the rest of the way, lesson learned? PACE is going to be critical. Got done saturday, went out ot eat (the generals chicken estas caliente) watched football, slept, ate breakfast in my jammies, suited up and hit the road again. Only to realize that if I were actually riding in the race, I would have been out there ALL THAT TIME. uh-oh. Mrs. Brakeville and I did the first part of the same route at a 10 mph average and that is going to be KEY in finishing this thing. 2. WEATHER, it was a nice 50 degrees on saturday but windy as hell, sunday a little cooler but almost dead calm, come april it could be 70 or it could be 20 outside, snow, rain, windy, sunny, warm, dry. The weather will be the deciding factor in this. Gotta figure out what works for the conditions and follow the boy scout motto...I also found myself mooing at the cows alot, i wonder if they know their fate and are even now laying plans to attack the hapless riders in the wee hours of the morning. eat beef today- pork tomorrow!!

Oh CRAP I'm "it"...

I got "tagged" so I must disclose six interesting things about me, then tag six more blog authors with the same task. Its kinda tuff to find 6 INTERESTING things about me but here go's; 1. I know what all 3 major bones in my right leg look like (painful but true) 2. I want to go sailing (preferably in a boat) 3. In my spare time I study quantum theory, and the theory of everything (no shit. why?) 4. I can request a cigarette and lighter in Italian 5. I got scolded by the guards in the Sistine Chapel. (sorry Jesus) 6. I'm learning how to play the guitar I'll tag http://bassoblog.blogspot.com/ http://mikehoward.blogspot.com/ http://midz76.blogspot.com/ http://sweetjaneesq.blogspot.com/ http://cyclinglyfestyle.blogspot.com/ http://theorphanageandyou.blogspot.com/

Weekends We Like

Its been awhile since I've had as busy a weekend as this. If you are interested in "indoor" racing at all you need to go HERE. 8 Up racing on a computer controlled trainer, your own bike, the big screen in front of you displays your position, speed, average speed, distance from the lead, and power in watts. What a blast! The computer even has "drafting" programmed in that you can feel at the pedals, it does NOT however, let you coast on the downhills. SAWEET! Donnie has an excellent place set-up, and roller racing here will be THE best spot on the calender. Clean changing rooms and a hot shower after. I may never race outside again! I will say that I have NEVER pushed myself that hard on a trainer before, I've always had a high heart rate but DAMN, during this race it never dropped below 195 bpm's. WOW! After I got back from the Quads, I drove the Family BACK to Andulusia for a evening of Snowboarding and Skiing. I don't quite have my 360 down yet and my right shoulder is still hurting this morning. I did find out that 8 days in Alaska Heli-skiing with the CHUGACH POWDER GUIDES only costs $6,500!!!! I'll be taking donations for that trip, Why do I watch WARREN MILLER movies????? Cause I like EM! Now its gonna get warm and sloppy, rode in the woods sunday and I think that was even tougher than saturdays racing, We need MORE cold so they can make MORE fake snow!!!

about normal

gettin whupped

Down with the sickness...

Usually that refers to something that is especially exciting and enthusiastic that you plan to be involved in, however, dropping 8 lbs in an evening from violent gastric outbursts I was literally down with it. What was meant to be a cyclocross weekend bash turned to bust after the first Jinglecross race on saturday, The course was a blast and I did turn in a good finish, even popped my last four recover-ease pills for Sundays race. Using a mountain bike in a CX race is kinda tuff but I was able to ride the sand trap and mud pits a little easier on the fat tires. (if that was ALL the course threw at me) but riding on grass sucks the marrow from your bones. Funny that as fast as the creeping crud hit me Saturday night, by Sunday night I was pretty much OK, I guess my entry fee (donation) went to a good cause, but I'd rather have raced, LETS HEAR IT FOR NYQUIL AND LYSOL, and a timely visit from my old friends Ernest and Julio Gallo. Much needed antioxidants and pain medication in an easy to administer liquid!! I was also quite surprised to discover just how VIOLENT and DANGEROUS Tiawanese soccer has become, the last I knew it was kinda like a Polo match without the horses or the mallets. I'm guessing the rampant steroid abuse in Asian FUTBAL has finally ruined the gentle game that was. Right now my road bike sits silently in the trainer "on my six" (that means behind me, right MIDZ?) but after I get done with this I'm gonna send in my entrys to TRANS IOWA V3, mostly because I'm a moron, but partly because the MILKMAN has thrown down the guantlet. ignorance really IS bliss (speaking for myself of course), I better start training soon.

Cyclo-Cross???

Yes Cyclocross, enjoyed only by the Euro-yuppie? Road geeks with lil' knobbies?? Actually RUNNING while the bike is riding YOU?? WTF??? Yeah its actually pretty fun. Didn't fare too bad in my first race, just stayed out of the way, but its a new twist for me, (now I need a new bike kinda thing), I signed up for the Jingle cross this weekend and looking forward to it. I'm sure I've broken some kind of unwritten CX law, but I was wearing shoe covers too! Uncool?? en vogue?? not "in" this season, like wearing white after labor day? why don't somebody tell me these things?? In reality, I just think the NIKE emblem on em' goes with my tights, ha ha tights, thats kinda funny as well.

Plans, Pains, and Practice

I'm waiting for my Cateye to get here, I have found myself AVOIDING the dreaded trainer lately and just riding at night with my red blinkie, which works really well if your behind, but without a headlight I'm playing with fire. Not only that but I'd rather be riding the trails anyway. Planning on doin a CX race this weekend, that will be a lesson in humility for sure but it looks fun, as my first attempt , this is the last race in this series, maybe no one will notice me floundering. Also believe I'll be doing trans-Iowa version 3, the only regret I have is this race is a loop and not "border to border" as versions 1 and 2 were. Put a call in AGAIN to the parks dept. to see about the status (or lack thereof) of our little trail system at Dehn's, I'm thinkin it could be included in a "sno-bike" series if the proper permissions were granted. If your lost, always follow the reflectors. unless your riding backwards, then your screwed!! So far no call back STILL, what I'm really lookin for is an OK to finally make Dehn's four wheeler forbidden, with strategic placement of SIGNS and posts to deter ridin em down there. Also expect a rock garden soon in the new-new section of singletrack, don't worry, i'll have an alternate route around these but there will be a TIME penalty for avoiding the rocks. YEAH!!!

The POT

Who are you to wave your finger? Ya' must have been out your hair. Eye hole deep in muddy waters. You practically raised the dead. Rob the grave to snow the cradle. Then burn the evidence down. Soapbox, house of cards,and glass, so don't go tossin your stones around. You must have been high. Foot in mouth, and head up asshole. Whatcha talkin' bout? Difficult to dance 'round this one till you pull it out, Boy. You must have been, so high. Steal, borrow, refer, save your shady inference. Kangaroo done hung the juror with the innocent. Now your weeping shades of chosen indigo got lemon juice in your eye. When you pissed all over my black kettle you must have been high...high. Who are you to wave your finger? So full of it. Eyeballs deep in muddy waters Fuckin hypocrit. Liar, lawyer, mirror show me whats the difference? Kangaroo done the hung the guilty with the innocent. Now you'll weep or, change the chosen into gold. Got lemon juice up in your high eye. when you pissed all over my black kettle you musta been! So who are you to wave your finger? who are you to wave your fatty finger at me? you must have been out your mind. Refer chased off indigo trapped without a reason refer chased off indigo. Liar lawyer mirror for ya, whats the difference? Kangaroo be stoned. he's guilty as the government. Now will you weep or, change the chosen into gold. Got lemon juice up in your EYE. Now when you pissed all over my black kettle. You musta been HIGH. Eyeballs deep in muddy waters. your're eyeballs deep in muddy waters. Ganja police, you must have been, out your mind.

Darkness falls...

I hate going back to "regular" time, when it gets dark at 4:30pm I get lazy. Can't wait for my light to show up. I was thinking about stringing 5 miles of extension cord thru Dehn's to light up the trail till then. I don't suppose the "Y" would notice if I tee'd off where they park the school buses???? Went all URBAN last night, think I scared the seasoned citizens coming off the gambling boat. The new library has a 25 to 30 foot rock wall behind it, hmmm, I bet a person could get a lil climbing in after hours if they were so inclined, I think it would rate a 5.6 to 5.7 easy, but i was wearing cleats so foot holds were sketchy at best, could run some water down it during january and have an ice climbing festival. Crampons are cool, if i owned a set I'd wear em to work just for the fun of it. nice days ahead, wednesday is no work and all play day...