Thanksgiving Day

Hot Apple Pie with Streusel
crumb topping 

Again this Thanksgiving I have taken the reins and am cooking with the help of my mom. Last night my mom and I went grocery shopping and got all the food then we came home and I started to brine the turkey, and make the apple pie with streusel toping which I am going to bake it first thing in the morning.

Reducing down POM
for the vinaigrette 

Today I woke up at 5:30 made a egg, ham "McMuffin" and a cup of Alterra coffee. Then I started my full day of cooking. First I started the oven then popped in the pie. While thats cooking I started to reduce down some pomegranate juice for my pomegranate vinaigrette.  I will use this on an Apple,and Toasted Walnut salad topped with blue cheese.   Next I will make my homemade cranberries that are cooked down in OJ and some sugar. But first I headed out for my ride.  I did my usual route out past Pewaukee and back. It was nice because no one was one the roads and I didn't have to worry about anything around me and I could just ride. After getting home and showering I made up the cranberries and Pear Pecan stuffing.  For the stuffing, I first toasted the bread in the oven, then pulled it out and combined it with the sautéed pears, onions, butter and chicken broth. I sprinkled on S+P and some nutmeg.  I realized that this batch wasn't going to be enough so I asked my dad to run to the store to pick up some stuff for the cranberry and sausage stuffing. Again I toasted the bread combined with butter and chicken broth, but add thyme, rosemary, and sage. Now with both stuffings done, cranberries done, pie done, salad dressing done only thing left was the green beans in beur blanc sauce and the turkey.

Turkey Pre Cooking

Making fresh bread cubes
 for the pear pecan stuffing

Now around 10, I pulled the turkey out of the brine and let rest for 30 minutes. I then seasoned it with salt, pepper, garlic, thyme and rubbed it all down with butter.  I set it in the roasting pan stuffed it with carrots, celery, onion and surrounded it with more vegetables.  I poured chicken broth in the bottom of the pan and a glug of white wine then tented it with foil and placed it in the oven at 350 for about 4ish hours.  After being in the oven 2 hours this where going good the thermometer was reading about 80 degrees and was climbing.  My other family members showed up and started snacking on my mini caprese salad skewers.  Then about 1 hour later I came back and with the temp around 130, it started to go down. For some reason when we lock our oven it stopped cooking. We unlocked it and the oven turned back on. This set things back about 45 minutes but no big deal.  Then around 2:30 I made the mashed potatoes and saw that the turkey had reached 160. I pulled it out and let it rest while I made up the green beans.  Once it rested 15ish minutes the thermometer read 165 so I figured we were ready to go.  I dressed the salad and topped it with the apples and blue cheese. While my mom served it I cut into the turkey and it looked good until I hit the deepest part of the breast and it was still pink.  My worst night mare just became a reality. I thought everything was going to go smooth but now that I needed to cook the turkey longer and dinner already started things got hectic. My dad was rushing me to get everything served, instead of letting me do my thing, I rushed and had no choice to quickly cook the turkey pieces in the micro and serve it. The one and only thing I hate to do and try to never do, cook food in the micro, was my only choice for quick service to make the food safe for my guests. With every side dish on the table and being passed around I brought out the now fully cooked turkey and served it.  While everyone was enjoying dinner and sipping on their red or white wine, I was still cleaning the bird and making sure it was cooked.  Then after most everyone was done with their first plate I finally came out and enjoyed the dinner I just spent a full day stressing over.  I couldn't focus on how well the meal went with the turkey on my mind. So i didn't really enjoying the dinner like I should have.

Fresh Wisconsin Cranberries 

 Once we finished our plates full of food I brought out the cherry nut cake and apple pie. Each had 5 candles in it for my dads birthday.  Each person had 1 or 2 pieces of dessert topped with freshly whipped cream.  This was also served with a dessert wine that  tasted like pure honey.  With everyone satisfied with the meal the day was finally over and I could just relax.  Looking back on it, the meal went pretty well, but I wish it could have been a little bit better.  If you head over to this page you can find some of the recipes I used. If you would like any recipes not posted just ask and ill send them to you. 

CX here and almost gone

Now that we are in the midst of the cyclocross seasons. Many people have been done racing for a couple months and started the "Off Season".  But some have continued on and started racing cross. Last year at this time I was so burned out I didn't even want to look at a bike. This year I am still racing and feeling excellent.  I started off the season as a Cat 3, raced Halloween Cross and took 2nd then 7th at Estabrook park. The race after that was a collegiate race mixed in with a WCA race. Since I am an A for collegiate I got to line up with the Pro 1/2 field and race for 1 hour instead of 45 minutes.  This race was so much fun and way faster. I ended up in the middle of the field and felt that was good enough to put in for my upgrade to Category 2.  The day after I put in for it I received an email saying it was approved.  This now means Ill be racing for 1 hour with the best racers in Wisconsin.  These guys are wicked fast.

Now this past weekend I wanted to go down to Jingle Cross in Iowa City but didn't have a ride and I didn't want to drive down by myself, so I stayed home and raced.  This was my first P/1/2 race and I was really nervous. When we got to the start line a small group was already on the front line and I realized that this was going to be a great race seeing that the field was so small.  Once the gun went off I tried to just hang with the leaders.  I was holding on to the back of the group until slowly it started to fall apart.  I was sitting 5th but lap by lap I gained ground passing people until I caught 2nd place, Chad Hartley.  I knew he was mainly a road racer so I wanted to get in front so I could set the pace through the tight turns and off camber hills.  I would gain time on him through these but he would jump and get right back on my wheel on the flat sections.  Then when we were coming down the home straight to start the last lap my chain broke. I ran to neutral support and got a bike. I rode the last lap knowing I had to push it so 4th wouldn't catch me, but it was really hard to when your riding on flats with clip less shoes.  I managed to hold him off and secure 3rd place.  This was my first pro podium for cross and my 3rd pay out.  I really enjoyed being able ride with Chad seeing as I watched him race on the road since I was really young.

This season has been great and is still going strong.  Hopefully Ill keep racing until Nationals in January then its break time until I kick it off again in preparation for next season.  Thanks to Crank Brothers, ESI Grips, Cycleops, ISCorp, Wheel and Sprocket/Vision, Ripon college cycling and most of all my parents, family and Coach Joe Cieszynski for helping me develop into who I am today, showing great support and helping me in all my highs and lows. And thank you to everyone else who has made this season and past seasons so much fun.  

2012 NATS

            This years Nationals started off with a bang.  Howard Grotts destroyed the D1 field and lapped most of the D1 and D2 field. The D2 race started at 9:10 am. Since Eric was out with an injury that he received after a practice run of the dual slalom course, I was the first Red Hawk to be called up and was in the second row right behind UWP rider Mike.  At 9:10 the gun went off, I clipped into my eggbeaters and took off. About 100ft later we started the ascent.  I was still sitting in the top group until the first 2 big kickers when the highlanders took off.  The group I was in was clipping along at a great pace, when single speeder Marc Thorsen of Ripon flew by Casey and I.  After about 2 miles or 20ish minutes up, we hit a really technical rocky single track section.  I could until the last couple feet then had to dismount. Casey ran by me and was 2 people ahead of me going down the decent.  He snuck by those 2 riders and flew down the hill.

           After 10ish minutes of descending we came through the start finish shoot and started to climb again.  I caught Casey and Marc then try to hold a steady pace. Casey and I kept pretty close for most of the race. On lap 3 about half way up the hill Howard Grotts flew by me at about 13 MPH, to put it into perspective I was going about 6-7 MPH.  We kept climbing when I hit the single track and Casey closed the gap between us. We flew down the hill, came through the start shout and I almost got taken out by D1 riders who were finishing because they got lapped. 

               I started the last lap and knew it was going to be tough because after the downhill my legs felt like bricks since they were being flexed all the way down the hill and had no time to relax.  So when we hit the first climbs my legs said stop, no more, but I kept saying "Shut up legs" -Jens Voigt. Another thing that help this pain go away was I kept thinking of Eric. Since he couldn't race I was racing for him and this gave me the extra motivation to go deeper into the pain cave until the point of no return. With this new motivation, energy etc... I caught a couple people and saw 2 others just ahead. I caught them right as we started the downhill and couldn't get around.  Shortly later I spotted 3 more people. Mike from UWP was one of the people I caught but was faster than Karl who was right in front of me so Mike got a gap on the downhill. I knew it was going to come down to the last open section right before the finish. So once we hit the open I tried to jump but the Karl also jumper and the gaps stayed the same and we rolled through the finish 12th, 13th and me 14th.  

              The short track was Saturday at 10am.  The course was the same start straight as the XC race. You sprinted 100ft then you turned up the mountain then veered left and continued to slowly climb when about half way up it kicked and the legs started to burn like a forest fire.  At the top you turned right and descended into some lose and dusty single track then after 2.5 minutes we were back onto the start straight. Lap after lap I moved up only hoping I wouldn't get caught by the leader. Finally on the 3rd last lap I noticed the leader getting closer but they didn't pull me I pushed it thinking I was getting pulled on the next lap. To my surprise I didn't and kept going. Then with 2 to go I jumped and gained 3 spots. I started my last lap and realized I went to early and burned my last matches. I gave it all I had but those 3 people slowly rolled past and I finished on the lead lap in 22nd place.  After 2 solid days of racing I'm beat and want to sleep but have to much fun coming tonight after the awards banquet.  Hopefully the banquet will be just as fun as the WORS banquet.  Kinda wish I could be there to get my award and see my WORS family again before the long winter.  

First days in NM

The Ripon crew looking good in our new Mt. Borah kits

So today is day 3 at altitude and day 2 in NM.  The Ripon crew left Wisconsin this past Saturday.  We headed out and Drove 12 plus hours to Kearny, Nebraska where we stayed in the Holiday inn hotel.  The hotel was great, it had water slides, big rooms but the only downside was no free breakfast so we ate at the restaurant in the hotel.  Never again will I eat there. The food was very over priced and so was the coffee and other beverages.  Then after Sunday breakfast we drove to Erie, CO to drop off Jeremy and kept on trucking along to Angel Fire.  We stopped about 1 hour away from our cabin and star gazed. Never have i seen something so beautiful. Ric took some pics of them and let me take one.  I was able to capture a shooting star. After we got arrived late sunday night so we couldn't really get to enjoy the views and the house we were staying in.  The house is huge, has 3 bed rooms and 2 bathrooms on the first floor, 1 master bedroom with a full bathroom and kitchen/ living room upstairs.  Then above the garage is another room with 4 beds and another bathroom.   The 2nd floor porch is also giant. We brought up the Park Tool equipment so we can work on bikes.  Thanks to all who ended up supporting our Ripon so we were able to come out to NM so early.

The first day of riding out here was sick.  We all road the course from last year and its really weird to see it in such amazing shape.  Also the downhill part of it was super fun last year and was just as amazing this year.  Hopefully tomorrow i'll be able to get out and ride the actual course.  Its totally different from last year.  It starts off with a double track climb then we enter single track and start to head back down the hill.  Hopefully it lives up to the expectations of last years course.  We also hit up the skills track that was being built last year.  Now finally done we got to practice some dual slalom skills.  Its fun hitting up jumps even though I don't know how to launch them yet.

Yesterday also was a great day because I finally got to surprise my dad. He usually figures out what our surprises are before we can actually tell him but this year my mom and I finally got him.  I took this picture to the right and sent it to my dad saying "happy birthday get your stuff packed you fly out in a couple days."  My mom, brother and I all bought him a ticket to fly out to Colorado and drive down to New Mexico with my grandparents for Nationals.  

I've procrastinated enough today I better get back to homework.  Ill keep posting up to and after the races have happened.  Here are more pics.

Statues in a store in Taos

Chicken Taco from a
 food cart in Taos

The past weeks and whats to come

This past weekend October 6-7, the Red Hawks headed to Kentucky for regionals.  The first day we raced short track and dual slalom.  It rained the day before so the short track race was a bit sloppy but nothing to bad.  The course included a hill climb, some single track and a couple of BMX style jumps/rollers depending who rode them.  Then on Sunday we did the cross country race.  The course was muddy but since the soil was made up of mostly clay it didn't do to much to affect the race. A couple sections were slippery but nothing to bad.  I ended up taking 9th behind some pro level riders. Now with a weekend off the Red Hawks are heading down to Angel Fire, NM for nationals. We are driving down a couple days before and riding down there trying to get used to the course. Also this will give me some time to see my grandparents before I race cause they are coming down from CO to watch the race. Then racing will take place on friday the 19th-21st.  I will be racing on Friday and Saturday.  The cross country race is first and will be about a 5 mile loop with 2.5 miles up the hill and 2.5 down.  I'm guessing it will be fairly similar to last year but a little less muddy. Then Saturday will be short track and if things go the way they have been this whole year a Red Hawk may be on the podium.  Time to pack up and get ready for a great week down in NM.  

Good times with great people

This past weekend we had a weekend free from collegiate racing so I decided to head up to the WORS Bear Paw race.  My friends and family got to stay in the cabins right on site which was cool because they had a full kitchen, bathroom and the best part was having a campfire and making pudgy pies the day before.  I had a turkey and cheddar on a ciabatta roll with just a bit of mustard. But making it over a campfire made it that more tasty.  But this weekend I wasn't really planning on racing.  I wanted to go up and just hang out with everyone and enjoy riding the trails the day before.  Then our Ripon coach persuaded me to go and race.  After riding a couple laps of the course I didn't want to stop.  I was having a blast just riding these trails.  They are technical and need your full attention.  Then realizing I had to race the next day I called it quits. Then after dinner, Joe Maloney, Tim Racette, Myles Beach and I sat in Myles cabin, the one next to ours, and had a great time talking and laughing over Mrs. Beach white cheese chicken lasagna. It was great to hang out with these guys again after being in school and not getting a chance to see the WORS family. On race day it was a bit chilly in the morning but warmed up pretty nice by the time I had to race at 1:30.  I got another call up and got to start right behind the winner, Cole House.  Don yells go and we take off. I got a great start and was sitting near the front up the first big climb.  At the top we cruised around in tall, bumpy grass and after losing some spots I entered the first section of single track 3 spots behind Myles.  This year the course was dusty and a lot of us had troubles seeing because of the dust cloud.  After battling this dust bowl, we hit the first road section.  We flew down it and made a hard right back into more technical single track.  We climbed up through roots and big rocks, a lot of which were "pedal busters".  After alternating these single track sections and fast roads for the first 3.5 laps I started to catch people again.  I was gaining speed on Ben Koenig when he noticed I was there and took off like a spooked deer. He ended up beating me at the end. This race was probably the most fun of all just because I mentally was able to go out and just ride with out really caring how I did.  Thanks to all for the cheers throughout the course racing wouldn't be as fun without you all.  

Chequamegon Fat Tire 40

This time of year is probably the best.  The leaves are starting to change colors, apple picking is on its way, the temperatures are cooling off etc... But another thing that makes this time great is the Chequamegon Fat Tire 40.  This race is a road race on gravel, grass and dirt roads.  Its fast, really fast.  So I new this year, with a gate 1 preferred spot, I'd have to hold back a little and not let my nerves get the best of me at the start.  I lined up behind some pretty big names like Lea Davison and local Wisconsinite's like Cole House, Mike Phillips, Matthew Bushce and previous winner Brian Matter. It was cool getting to line up with the big dogs.  When the gun went off the ATV rolled away and it was go time, well kinda. The ATV's kept the pace pretty smooth so everyone could keep up.  But once we hit Rosie's field it was go time.  Everyone battled and the field split up into different packs. This year I was riding with Chloe Woodruff, and shortly after Lea Davison but only for a bit because she flatted.  After riding through field after field I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold on and with only 1 hour 15 minutes in the legs I popped. This could have been due to many things, being sick for the past week, going to hard in warmup or the simplest answer it just wasn't my day. I tried my hardest to hang on the back but couldn't. After loosing the group I tired to eat a couple of GU and Powerbar Gels to see if that would help bring back some energy. It definitely helped because when a tandem rolled by I jumped on their wheel and they pulled me from about mile 21-34 where we caught Dallas Fowler and 1 other rider.  Those 2 guys jumped on the train but the tandem was just to strong for me and I fell off again.  I pushed my hardest to not get caught.  I almost held off a group of 3 but they were just to strong and got by.  I rolled down the finish hill and then back up to find Bill Street attacking hard from behind I stood up and tried to sprint but he got me at the line. After finishing I new I was top 60.  I was hoping for a top 30 like last year but this year was a lot faster than last.  Even though I didn't place where I wanted I still was happy with my effort and happy that I did it in about the same time as last year.  It was another fun experience racing bikes.  I gained a lot of knowledge from this race and hopefully it will help me in the future.  It was also cool to see how well the WORS pro racers did.  Even though Brian didn't win he still crushed it and took 3rd Mike Philips from Adventure 212 also destroyed it and took 4th.  Well off to another race next weekend in Missouri which is on the MWCCC calendar for Ripon.  

Hard Times

This past race was in Suamico WI, which is just north of Green Bay.  It was a fast course for the pre ride but a little dusty.  I hoped that we could get a little rain to help it out but instead we got a lot of rain.  The course didn't turn to muddy as it was mainly all sand. For as much rain as we got it made the course tacky and just that much more fun.  I didn't have my best race of the year, I took 25th overall and 2nd in age group.  I decided to represent Ripon for the race because I have moved in and this was the official 1st race on the calendar for us.  For as much fun as I had not many people felt this same way.  The had to re-route the course because a ground hive got stirred up and many people got stung more than once. Thankfully my dad did not get stung as he is allergic to bee stings, but he did take a stick to the face and got a nice cut on his upper lip. Another tragic accident occurred that I don't feel comfortable writing about as I don't really know Rob.  For the best write up read Travis's page. Now I'm back in Ripon waiting for breakfast.  I forgot how hungry you get after a race.   

Life...

Today the 22nd is my first day of class. Summer came and went by super fast.  It's nice to be back and in the swing of things.  Life up in Ripon is pretty much the same as last year, living in the room right below my old room, things still close at 9pm every night, and the cows still stink which in a weird way I kinda missed. Tomorrow is my 19th birthday and my grandparents are flying in from colorado for my grandpas high school reunion and are coming up to visit the campus and then we are headed out to dinner with my parents. Collegiate racing starts on the 1st of september with a home race at Mt.Morris where the Subaru Cup was held this past weekend.   I didn't do so great at that race.  I was in the top 10 up the start hill and then I crashed pretty nasty and had to try and fight back up to the front. I burned a lot of energy trying to do that.  On sunday was the short track race and I was pretty beat from the day before but I gave it my all and had a blast racing.  Hopefully this weekend Ill have a better result.  Well off to lunch and then practice tonight on the dirt.    

Pics From Colorado

Here is just a couple of the many great pictures that were taken while we were in Colorado 

 

 

Top off a great finish will a great ride home

 

LT 100

I rolled out of bed at 3:15am, walked into the kitchen made breakfast and finished packing. Then I got my brand new Ripon kit on, put on some Chamois Butt'r and headed out around 4 with my Good Earth tea in hand.  My dad and I are driving down highway 24 and we see a flash in the sky, we turn and both said "did you see the shooting star".  I closed my eyes and made a wish.  I opened them to see a cow elk standing on the side of the road.  Thankfully it turned and ran back into the woods. What usually took 45 minutes to 1 hour to drive to Leadville now only took 30 minutes.  We arrived in Leadville at 4:30am, which was much earlier than we planned.  At 5:15ish I walked over to the starting chutes and laid my bike down, only to find out from an official this was not allowed, even though everyone else did it.  I listened and my dad thankfully came over to stand with it so I could sit in the car with Coach Ric Damm's wife and kids.  At 5:50am I headed back to the starting chutes and waited, with all 1800 other riders, until 6:20am when the count down began.  The gun went off at 6:30 and my gate, the white gate/very last one, took off like a herd of snails.  We stood and waited for at least 1 minute when we finally started to roll forward. Thankfully my time didn't start until I crossed the start line.
     Once I crossed the line I turned on the gas and weaved my way through 800-1000 people before the pavement turned to dirt.  Some one must have crashed because a vast majority of the people came to a stop. After riding the start the day before I knew the left side was best, so I tried my best to stick to that side.  Luckily there where 2 lines of people riding down the middle and I could easily make my way up the left side.  Once we hit St. Kevins (kee-vans), I throw it into my small ring and spun my way through the sea of people at about 5 mph.  Still riding on the left side, I picked people off one by one until one guy buzz's another guys wheel and lean's into me.  This forces me into a rut and off my bike.  I ran about 10 feet passed 2-3 more people and remounted. I settled back into my rhythm and brought my HR back down. After 5 miles, we got to the top and flew down the backside until the dirt turned back into pavement. We continued to descend another 2-3 miles when we started Sugarloaf climb. We climbed for 1-2 miles when we turned back onto gravel and continued to climb for anther 4-5 miles through a mix of 2-3 inch rocks and pea gravel.  We came to the top and started to descend 1500 ft down power line. With only 2 rideable paths down, I took the right one, a little bit more sketchy, and flew by 8-10 people before hitting the section shown in the Leadville movie.  This section is about 28% grade.  Now with only one good path around the 3 foot deep ruts, I sat behind the riders floating far enough back just incase someone crashed.  Now at mile 20ish, we had about 5 more miles to the first aid station.  Of this 5 miles, about 3 miles was flat and on a paved road.  Luckily I was in a group and we all took turns on the front.  We had a tail wind and were flying down the road.  Once we turned off the pavement and back onto the dirt we caught Dallas Fowler, who had a flat rear tire.  He said he had been riding it for about 4 miles. I asked if he wanted my saddle bag, but with only about 1/2 mile to the aid station he didn't take it.  When our group got to the aid station no one was going to stop except me.  I spotted Mrs. Greene grabbed GU chomps, gels and 2 new bottles.  With only about a 30 second pit I easily caught back up to the group.  Still on the flat part of the course we kept taking pulls until one guy decides to not pull off.  He sat on the front for about 12 miles until we hit the "single track".  The path was one bike wide but it was cut into the side of a hill with grass on either side, so call it single track if you want, but it was no where near what I consider single track.  After this section, at mile 40, was twin lakes aid station.  My dad was at this station and knew everything I needed.  When I rolled up he had everything sitting out waiting for me. I traded Camelbacks, grabbed one bottle, some GU chomps, GU gels, peanut butter flavored and Chocolate Honey Stinger waffles.  After another quick pit, I remounted and rode about 1 mile to the base of Columbine climb.  This climb is a gravel road just wide enough for 2 cars.  It takes you from about 9500 ft to over 12,000 ft.  About 3 miles from the top, it narrows to only one car wide and has a couple of 20 plus percent grade kickers.  After passing another 25 people and 1 hr 30 minutes later I got to the top where another aid station was.  They had M&M, sandwiches, crackers, more GU gels and hot soup because the temp dropped about 10 degrees. I grabbed a sandwich and quickly got out of there.
      With 4 hours 3 minutes in the legs I was feeling pretty good. I flew down Columbine at about 35 mph with a max of 42.6.  22 minutes later, I made it back to the twin lakes aid station.  I again traded Camelback's, grabbed 2 bottles and GU gels.  Rolling out solo, I spotted a group of about 5 guys 20 seconds ahead.  I picked up the pace and started bring them back, until a down hill when they put another 20 seconds on me. Now 40 seconds behind, I put my head down and TT'd until I caught onto the back, just in time for the single track where I took the lead. We were riding at about 12-13 mph and getting faster.  Once things opened up again I jumped to the back, sat in for a bit until one guy couldn't hold the pace and falls off.  I move up to about 3rd wheel and one by one the rest of the group falls off.  Us 3 work together and catch another strong rider.  Now with him, we had a great group.  We worked and had a good rotation going.  We would pass people, they would sit on the back but shortly after fall off.  We kept this rotation going until about 1/2 mile from the pipeline aid station where I told the guys I was jumping off the front to go to my pit.  I put enough of a gap on where I stopped, surprisingly to find my dad with Mrs. Greene, grabbed 2 bottles and rolled out with about a 5 second gap.  I sat up and waited for them knowing it would be best because the long road section was coming.  Now at mile 74 we hit the road and had a nasty head/cross wind.  We each took 30 second pulls and managed to hold about 16 mph.  We kept cruising and made it to pipeline.  We started the assent, the group split up and once the steep sections started we all got off and walked.  About 1/2 way up the steep section, I passed a couple guys that were cheering and I hear them say "that kid must be 16" I respond "I'm 18" and hear "see I told you he was young, your doing great keep it up young gun". I climbed all 1500 vertical feet of pipeline and at the top was all alone.  With 20 or so miles to go I wanted to catch at least one person, so on the long 3 mile road assent, to the back side of the St. Kevin's, I wouldn't be alone.  Luckily I caught one guy on the decent, after pipeline, and we worked until the road climb where he said  "ride your pace and I'll try and hang just don't forget to save a few bullets for the kickers on St. Kevins". I got into a comfortable pace and looked back to see him way off the back.  I got to the top and started to climb the backside of St. Kevin's when I looked back and he was no where to be seen.  At the top of St. Kevins there is 14 miles left because the Leadville 100 is actually 104 miles.  Of this 14, 9 was down hill.  After flying down I had 5 to go.  When it flattened out for some reason I looked back and saw Ryan, the guy who started next to me.  He caught me and we crossed the hwy, that we started on, and got onto a gravel road.  At mile 4 we turned up hill and he dropped me.  He looked back and said "lets go we can beat 8 hours".  I shifted up and gave it my all but couldn't catch him.  I took a couple deep breaths, put my head and climbed the last 3 miles when we turned onto the start straight.  With just under 1 mile I looked at my Joule and saw 7 hours 52 minutes and knew I could make it under 8 hours.  With all that I had left, I pushed it up the finishing straight.  I crossed the line in 8 hours and 41 seconds and shortly after I realized my wish came true.   My chip time was 7:59:20.14 which put me in 74th overall, 69th out of the males and 2nd in age group. My dad runs over, with my grandparents, and almost knocked me over with his huge hug.  A couple photographers rush over and start snapping pictures.  MaryLee then came over put my medal around my neck and gave me a hug.  Shortly after followed a head official of the race.   He asked me my age and was shocked to hear that I was 18.  He congratulated me and assured me I was under 8 hours.  Now with the race over I cleaned up and waited for my teammates to come through.  First came Ric Damm at 9:38:12, then Jeremy Brouwer at 9:56:10, next was Ben Jones at 10:44:37, then Kyle Greene at 11:30:24 and then Paul Meuer at 11:31:54.  6 started and 6 came home with belt buckles.  After a great couple of weeks I'm almost home.  The captain just asked to put away all electronics.  Pics will be up soon.  

On the move

The past couple of days have been pretty relaxed. We had family over for dinner at grandmas house on sunday, but besides that nothing really exciting.  I did a couple rides and almost got taken out by a f150 pulling a horse trailer and a guy driving an electric car.  Today, monday the 6th, my dad and I moved down to Frisco with the Ric, BJ and Kyle. Everyone else will be coming down tonight when things will get really cramped for a couple days.  It should be fun now that I have trails to ride with other people. Hopefully ill get some good pics to show what life's like.

Highs and lows

Throughout the past couple of days I've had some great times. I rode to the capital and stood on the mile high step.  At the end of the ride I ended up riding through Highlands Ranch which has some of the biggest houses i've ever seen.  I also did a 3 hr hike with my grandma in Roxborough state park.  Today I rode to Castle Rock and what I didn't realize is that going down and coming back were all up hill.  Didn't plan on doing hills but a little extra work never hurt.  Just like Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock has some huge houses.  The roads through the subdivisions were really smooth and very little traffic which made riding really nice cause then I could enjoy the views of the mountains.  Riding through these areas makes me want to move out here even more.  On my way to Castle Rock, just off the side of the road were some MTB trails.  A couple guys were tearin it up and made me want to pull a Matthew Busche in his SPY optics commercial.  Can't wait to get my MTB so I'll be able to ride some of CO's trails. But every high has a low point.  I got a call at 3:04pm on July 31st saying that my grandfather died due to 2 types of cancer. RIP grandpa, you are now home just as you wanted.  

At Roxborough state park

Capital steps and riding home from the capital.  Sporting the Camelback this week

Colorado

Just made it out to Colorado.  I left today July 29th at 4:20am made it to the airport at 5 got all my bags checked in, got some Alterra coffee and boarded the plane at 6:10. I flew southwest so I got to pick my seat. I decided to sit front row next to the window.  The plane ride went smooth and we arrived at DIA at 7:25am mountain time. I then headed to baggage claim where I met up with my grandparents John and Gail. My bag came out 5th or 6th, which was nice because then we could head out pretty quick. After a 40min drive and eating at I HOP, we arrived at their house.  We then went to REI to get a trail map so when my bike arrives I can explore Colorado's paved bike paths.  Time to sit and finish watching the World cup final's.  I'll keep updating and adding some pic's of my adventures and travels.  

Slowly

This past week seemed to fly by. I had a great week of training in the wonderful weather we had, not. But the heat definitely help me prepare mentally for Sunburst.  When my family and I arrived Saturday to pre ride the weather wasn't to bad.  The temperature was in the 80's and the humidity wasn't to high. After having a year off from this course, it didn't really seem to change much. The course lay out was basically the same but they added more down and back's through a section of pine trees, now we had to do it 10-11 times instead of 5-6. This course is mostly climbing so I wasn't sure how I'd do against all the top pro racers. On race day the temperature was in the 90's and with very little shade you were always in the sun.  When we arrived at 8am we set up our easy up and waited for the races to begin. At 11:30 my parents went off and I did their bottle hand offs. During this race a lot of racers were dropping out because of all the dust and heat.  This wasn't the best sign knowing that I would have to deal with the same stuff.  When it was time for my the elite race I got ready, warmed up and headed to the line.  Don starts his call ups and to my surprise I got one, which is number two for the year. Now sitting 3rd row, behind Tim Racette, I was feeling good.  Don sends us off and I'm sitting mid pack.  The pace wasn't unbearable so I could move up pretty easily.  We charged through the 1/2  mile prologue loop and created a dust storm.  The dust was so thick I had troubles breathing and seeing the trail. The picture below captured by Gary Smits shows this dust. 

After the prologue loop it was time to climb. We climbed and climbed then on the first decent along a corn field, Tim Racette decided to ride through the tall bushes and hooked something on a log.  In slow mo I see Tim's bike fly up and he goes right over the bars. I got around with ease and started picking people off 1 by 1.  Each lap I got father and farther up until lap 4 when I caught Ron Stawicki.  I got around him and thought I could drop him, he was riding stronger than I thought.  Ron was floating 15-20 seconds behind me and kept getting stronger as the lap progressed. I managed to keep a good gap on him and kept pushing only hoping I had the legs to catch Chad Sova.  The legs pulled through and on lap 5 I finally managed to catch him.  I got a couple of lapped riders in between us, before one little section of single track, and that was enough to allow me to get a gap and ride in for 8th overall. After another great finish things are slowly starting to come along.  With WORS #7 in the books there is a couple of weeks free from WORS but the racing continues in CO.  With a couple of free days before I leave, I hope to spend some time with my sick grandfather and make the best out of the time he has left.   

Another CycleOps athlete and Wheel and Sprocket/Vision rider on the podium

5 yrs ago- today

This past weekend was the Crystal Ridge WORS race. This course is my home field and I've always have a blast riding and racing this course.  It's always hot/humid or really muddy.  This year it was very very hot.  But 5yrs ago in 2007 it was really really muddy.  In 07' I was new to the sport of cycling.  I always went to the races with my parents but never wanted to race. For some reason I decided to sign up for the Crystal Ridge race.  I pre-registered so when it poured rain the day before the race, I couldn't back out.  On race day I lined up, with the other citizens, in my tennis shoes and my dads CSC kit.  I rode my hardest and finished covered with mud.  As my mom always told me "if you're getting dirty you're having fun".  Now 5yrs years later I lined up with the Elite field in my Shimano shoes and Wheel and Sprocket/ Vision kit.  I went my hardest up the the start climb, but got blown away by Tristan who got the hole shot and the victory for the day.  I was stuck behind some people in the single track on the first lap and couldn't get by.   Once it opened up, I snuck around them and could finally start to race my race.  I picked people off one by one. Each lap I worked my way through the field and tried to keep water coming in.  I got a bottle from my coach, Joe and from my dad. I was drinking over 1 bottle a lap which is a lot since it's only a 7 mile loop.  After climbing the start hill 4 times, I was finally on my last lap. I came through in 13th place and could see the next 3 places about 45 seconds- 1 minute ahead of me. I pushed and got around Justin Piontek right before alpha trail and focused on catching Ben Koenig. I caught him right before the rocks and the wood bridges in the new HD line.  I floated behind him as he and I were riding at the same pace.  We climbed craters of the moon and came out onto the white gravel road.  Ben was far enough ahead where I couldn't get a draft, so I really had to push it to pass him before the upper section of single track.  I got around him and set my focus on catching 10th spot, Brian Heifner. I saw him and ended up getting on his wheel about half way down the white gravel going towards the "wall". We climbed the "wall" and thanks to Rachel Horstman's cheering, I was able to stick on his wheel. He got a small gap on me before the start/finish climb and I couldn't close it in time. I rolled through the finish in 11th spot about 5-10 seconds behind Brian. Going back 5yrs to racing in the mud and my tennis shoes to now, taking 11th spot and getting on the podium in the Elite race, I'm really glad my parents highly encouraged me to saddle up and give it shot.  Thanks for all the support you guys have given me over the past years.  With my best finish of the year, things are looking very good for the next couple of months. Time to relax and get some zzzz's. Don't forget to check out XTR photo for some great shots of the race.  

Busy Busy Busy

This past month has been pretty busy with training, racing and working.  I haven't had much time to sit and write up a post.  I've written bits and pieces but haven't had time to finish it.  This past month i've done a couple of WORS races where I won age group in both of them and took 23rd and 24th overall.  I felt great during each race but everyone else was also feeling good I guess.  I've also done a couple of TOAD races.  I've raced Cat 2/3 and have gotten dropped in both races.  The first race some guy takes out 2 people around the first turn, up the first hill, on the first lap and almost took me out.  This put me about 5-10 seconds behind the field and it was impossible to catch back on.  In the second race, again some guy goes down and takes out 3-4 riders in the first mile and almost took me out.  I got back on the back of the pack but with a nasty cross wind, it was really hard to move up.  I was riding at my limit and popped.  I ended up doing 4 of the 5 10 mile loops because on the 4th lap I broke my rear derailleur cable.  Now today I'm racing at Downer classic and hopefully I will be able to hang with the group. I'm still going strong and keeping focused on the months ahead.  Can't wait till august when I get to see my grandparents and teammates.  It feels so far away but it will be here before I know it.  See all you guys soon.  Here are some pictures from the past races

 

Levis 100

This past saturday June 9th I decided to race the Levis/Trow 100 WEMS race.  I signed up for the 100 miler because I wanted to get a 100 mile race in before I head out to Leadville for the Leadville Traill 100. On friday my dad and I drove up to Hatfield, WI to Levis Mounds

Up north fools have recognized

We arrived around 7:30pm set up our pit tent, our sleeping tent and tried to relax and enjoy the night. We struggled with that because the mosquitoes were out. They weren't to bad but defiantly noticeable. We headed into the tent and preped as much as we could for the race. Shortly after we headed to bed. The next morning I tried to sleep in a little but my body clock woke me up at the usual 5:30am. I headed to the car made breakfast and waited until 7:00 when I started to get ready. Not knowing how this whole endurance racing works I did a much shorter warm up but found out later it really wasn't needed because the pace was very comfortable on the 1st lap. At 7:45 I headed to the riders meeting and placed my bike about 300 meters down the track for the lemond start. At 8 the shot gun goes off and we take off jogging to our bikes. I grab my Trek Superfly with its newly added Shimano XTR brakes, mount it and take off sitting 4th.  We enter the first section of single track and since I don't know what the pace was going to be like I decided to just follow and see how hard everyone else was going.  After a comfortable 1st lap us 4 make it through the pits where I take a bottle hand up and keep rolling. Now out on lap 2, the 4 of use are still together and before the single track I pop a Powerbar Gel and eat some Clif Shots. A couple miles in Randy Wegener takes off and gets about a 40 second gap not knowing if I should chase I passed 3rd and just stuck with 2nd place.  After a couple more miles around mile 6 we hit the aid station I look behind me abd power past 2nd because I notice he might be a little sick. We start the long climb and 3rd slowly falls off my wheel.  I climb at a steady pace and fly down the technical descent knowing that my new Shimano brakes can stop anything.  After another 12.5 miles I make it back to the pit. I stop and my wonderful pit crew, my dad, hands me a waffle, 2 bottles and I stuff my pockets with Poewrbar Gels and Gu Chomps.  I take off on lap 3 and catch Randy around mile 2. I sit on him taking his pace until mile 10 when his pace slows a little and I decide to take the lead and ride my pace. We hit the last climbs of the lap and Randy falls off my wheel.  I enter the pit with about a 2-3 minute gap.  My dad hands me 2 more bottles a Pop tart and before I head out I squirt some water over my head. Now out on lap 4 the temps have risen to about 85 90 and I'm drinking a lot more. I go through both my bottles in the first 8 miles and fight through the last 4.5 miles driven by the thought of water. I finally make it back to the pit and my dad has 2 bottles and a sandwich waiting for me. I take one of the bottles drink as much as my stomach can handle and dump some on my head. I take 2 bottles eat my sandwich and grab a couple more Gels. I ask my dad to have a Camelback ready for me on the next lap and head out on lap 5 after another 2ish minute pit. Knowing that I'm going to need more water than the 2 bottles I have, when I made it to mile 6 I stopped at the aid station, filled up my bottles and ate some banana pieces then started the grueling climb.  Still feeling good I make it back to the pit in about 40 minutes.  Again I dump some water on my head grab my Camelback from Ken Stuckart another 100 mile racer who had to drop out. I also grab a bottle just incase and my dad tells me 2nd is about 34 minutes behind. I roll out feeling much better because my fluids are replenished.  I make it through lap 6 without any problems except the fatigue is starting. I roll back to the pit with about a 40 minute gap and headed out for, as Ken said "one more WORS race".  The 7th lap went well even though it was much slower. The fatigue in my arms and hands had grow exponentially and it was getting hard to shift but this was due to all the pounding form the bumps and not from a bad bike fit, thank you Randy Jennings for doing such a great job fitting me.  I really tried to enjoy this lap and not do anything stupid knowing that I had a pretty large gap I tried to pace myself so that I wasn't totally trash for the last lap.   When I got to the pit for the last time I lightened the load a little. I dropped the Camelback and 1/2 of the gels in my pocket and took 2 bottles. I did about another 4 minute pit but this time I tried to really make sure everything was working on my bike just to make sure nothing would fall off or break on me for my final lap.  I took off feeling pretty good and tried to keep the pace high. After making it through 97 miles without falling I hit the 9 mile sign and go about .3 of a mile pop up my front tire over an up high root and keep going backwards. I end up in the woods and rip the leg of my shorts on a log.  I get up assess my leg and take off again.  Another teammate Jesse Kruchoski, he did the 50 solo and took 4th, caught me in the last 1/2 mile, I let him by and I stuck on his wheel.  He slows up right before the finish to let me by and we roll in together. I finished with a time of 10 hours 34 minutes which was almost exactly 52 minutes ahead of 2nd. I roll back to the pit area dismount my bike and just stand there not knowing what to do. I walk around in circles kinda in daze still not understanding what I should do.  After about 10 minutes I get changed and wash up.  We drive up to the finish for awards and head to Culvers for dinner.  

                          New Giro helmet as my prize                                            Results after 7 laps
                           
After a long car ride home last night its time for some serious R&R before WORS race #4 CamRock and pick some strawberries with my mom.  Thanks for reading check back soon for a post race report of CamRock.

Short and Sweet

Came up to Wausau feeling good. Got a pre ride in with Nathan and Ryan Baumann. About 1 mile in my front break decides to stop working I stopped gave it a couple pumps and it was back. This only lasted about another 2 miles when again I had no front break.  Good thing Rib Mountain Cycles wasn't to far away because they closed at 5 and my dad and I were leaving the race site at 4:30.  We got to Rib Mountain Cycles and Casey Hildebrandt and his crew bled my front break and tightened my lose bottom bracket. We then headed back and I went out for another lap just to test it out. Near the end of the lap a tree decides to pop up, I hit it, go over the bars head first into a tree and give myself a concussion. I made my way back and the rest of the night is still a little blurry.  Now on Sunday my neck and back hurt and i've got a splitting headache. After some pain meds my headache is finally gone and I'm feeling great. My warm up goes good, I get my first elite call up ever. I'm sitting right behind Brian Matter and Mike Phillips when Don calls go. We take off make it through the first section of single track down along the gravel road up the big hill and enter Ho Chi Min when I puncture my rear tire. I shot some CO2 into it but it didn't hold. With my day over I start to walk back with another elite racer Rebecca who bent her hanger pretty nasty.  We had a great conversation on the way back about racing. 40 minutes later we make it back I turn in my tag and call it a day. Not the best of luck for me this weekend but theres always another race can't get caught up in 1 stupid little thing like a flat. TIme to rest the head and get prepared for the races to come. 

Bone Ride

The Bone Ride a 160 mile ride is put on by former Tour De France racer Tom  Schuler.  We ride from his house in Wauwatosa to madison and back. You can join the ride anywhere on the route but most people start at his house or at Attitude Sports in Pewaukee.  Only knowing it was going to be a long day in the saddle I had to pack a lot of food and drink.  I had pockets full of PowerBar gels, Cliff Bars, Cliff Blocks and a new food on the list Pop Tarts. I also tried some Enzo Button hole chamois cream. This stuff works great it has a subtle cooling affect and without it I don't think i'd be able to sit today. On the way out the pace was really moderate. We were riding at 20MPH, but since you were in a draft you do't have to work very hard at all.  We made it to madison just under 4hrs. Once we arrived we rode around the capital and headed to lunch. Myself and many others headed to Noodles & CO. After putting down a big bowl of pasta some of us rode over to a local coffee shop, just down the street from yellow jersey bicycle, and had some espresso.  We then rode over to yellow jersey bicycle got a group pic and headed home.  Just outside of madison I was riding in the lead group and all of a sudden things blew up. We were really hammering and realizing I wouldn't be able to hold this pace for another 70 miles I fell back with Ric Damm, Sam Tobias and a handful of others.  We tried to start a pace line but people kept attacking off the front trying to catch the lead group. These people quickly fell off our group and we got a good rotation going.  We made it to Oconomowoc where some stopped at a gas station to fill up on water. I kept going but had to stop in Pewaukee to go to the bathroom.  Good thing Pat Janisch also stopped because other wise I would have been on my own for the last 15miles. I pulled Pat out of Pewaukee until North Ave then he took over for a bit and we traded off pulls and slowly made it back to Tom's house. With 159 miles in my legs I rolled home and had finished up with 160.04 miles.  I came inside showered, sat down on the couch and fell asleep at 7pm.  Time to get some good R&R.  

Rhinelander

WORS number 2 was held at camp Tesomas just outside of Rhinelander. Last year at this race Jack Schirpke invited my parents and I to stay in a cabin with him.  Thankfully we got to stay in that same cabin this year.  Since we had this cabin the whole weekend, my dad and I drove up friday and got in late.  The next morning we got up, did some things around town and headed out for a pre ride.  I went out with teammate Nathan Guerra, and Wilhelm, master mechanic at the trek tent. After doing a lap I realized this was going to be a hot and dusty race.  On race day it was 80 degrees and with the rain holding off, it didn't seem like it was going to very different conditions from the pre ride.  After watching my dad race in the sport race I got kitted up and started my warm up. After the warm up I headed to the line.  Everyone was already at the back of the start shout and I was sitting about 5th row.   Once Don called us up I moved up 1 or 2 spots. Don called GOOOOO and we were off. After the first turn I was already up to the top 20 and was battling to move up.  Once we hit the first section of single track I was about 15th.  Powering through the first lap I was feeling good and flew through the start shout out onto my 2nd lap.  During this lap the temperature started to drop and it was getting darker out.  About 1/2 way through it started to downpour and my dad said it was also hailing and that the tornado sirens were going off.  Not knowing if Don was going to call the race Matt Gehling and I took off.  We got to the start/ finish and Don say's "keep going you've got 2 more".  This little bit of rain was just enough to make the trails perfect, the dust was gone and the trails were tacky.  With new found energy I tried my hardest not to blow up on the start straight.  I got through the 3rd lap with ease and was going strong on the 4th lap until the rain came back.  This time the sky really opened up and didn't hold back.  It poured so hard it created rivers that ran through the trails and created giant puddles everywhere.  With no brakes and my cassette clogged up with sand I pushed through the last lap and rolled through the finish. I think the only thing not clogged with mud were my crank brothers peddles Now with the rain finally over, I found my dad and he told me, he thought I finished 12th. After waiting about 5 minutes WORS already had the results posted and I was officially 13th overall and 2nd in age group.  I rolled back to the cabin showered and went back for  the awards ceremony.  While waiting I said to my dad "watch they will pay out top 12". We waited and my age group came up.  David Flaten (left) got called up, then Kyle Sarasin (right) and finally myself. I walked up and got my award. 

 Even though I was second in my age group, Joe Maloney, who is really killing it this year, took 7th overall and was on the overall podium and doesn't count toward the age group podium. After the podium it hit me I missed out on the overall podium.  As I guessed only the top 12 got payed out.  

After a long day in the saddle and a long drive home I need to get some good recovery as I'm doing the Bone Ride on wednesday. Below are some more post race mud pics. Check out http://www.xtrphoto.com/ for some great photos of all the racers.  

WORS #1 Iola

WORS #1 is finally here and gone. Its been a long awaited race and it was a great way to start of the MTB season.  The day before a couple Ripon teammates, coach Ric Damm and I all drove up to pre ride the course on saturday. The course was beautiful. But this wasn't going to last long. After we left I got a call from my parents saying that it was starting to rain. This rain wouldn't let up until early sunday morning only to start up again around 7.

The Storm before is on its way

This storm only got worse throughout the day. Since the storms where so bad Don, the founder of WORS, decided to push the start time of the sport race back by 30 minutes and shortened there race. He also decided to shorten the comp and elite race by 1 lap. Now only having to do 20 miles I new this was going to be a fast race. After a quick warm up, I got to the line around 1:20pm.  I was sitting 4th row, which I was pretty happy about because I knew that everyone in front of me was a seasoned elite veteran.  After Don's famous GOOOOOO, we took off.  I pushed off but had to dab because the guy in front of me didn't start to move like I had anticipated.  I pushed off again and finally got going. Cruising up the first hill, then down into the bowl and making a hard right we started to climb again.  I wasn't the happiest with my position so I tried to move up but it wasn't happening. After climbing for a bit we flew back down into the bowl and then right up another big hill which is usually rideable but with all the rain it was like trying to ride up a greased slip and slide. All of us got off and ran it. I re-mounted, clipped right in with no problem, thanks to Crank Brothers for making amazing pedals, and got going again.  Now realizing what kind of race this was going to be all I could think about was collegiate nationals which had similar conditions, except Iola was much flatter and didn't have a river running through the center of the trail.  After racing for 3 laps just behind Casey and Pete I was in no mans land because Casey and Pete only had to do 3 laps.  Trying to push and catch some of the people in front of me I ran out of trail and my first WORS race was in books.  I realize now i've got a long way to go but for the first race of the year and my first elite race ever, I didn't really know what to expect.  I ended up finishing 2nd in age group but got a 1st place medal because Joe, who took first, was also on the podium for the overall prize, so he doesn't count for the age group.  I also got 12th out of the cat 1 males and 28th overall out of every male elite racer. Not knowing what to expect I can only hope things get better from here but we will have to wait until Rhinelander to see.  Here are some post race pictures. 

Jason and I.