Memorial Day Picnic

We of course biked to Racoon river park for some fun in the sun and food.

Day 10

Austyns First Booneville loop

35 miles 2 hours and 33 minutes.

Mmmm Mud

Booneville Road FAIL

Snack at the Booneville Post office

Second break at Moffit on Adams Ave.

Smok'n in the Junction after

Day 9

Day 8

So day 8 of De-tox, yes the day at the bottom of the blog is days with out alcohol.  I decided that if I was actually going to finish DK200 I needed to do something with myself so 14 day detox was in order.  I will say the 'craving' was gone after 5 days and I am loosing 1 lbs a day.  I feel great now!

Only 4 days till vacation!  11 days off, 2 bicycle tours (dk200, and my gravel camping ride) and maybe just maybe one extra century for good measure (making 5 centuries in a week!)  

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost

So here is to the Road Less Traveled :

Day 8

3000 Miles

Passed 3k for the year Yesterday.  Even with redirecting my goals for the year and having originally wanted to hit this milage in March I'm still putting in alot of gravel miles.  It's nice to be home for dinner most nights and I discovered last night I can go ride 25-35 miles and only be gone for a couple hours.   It's amazing what the affects of not stopping for beer can be :)

This Guy is AMAZING!



Day 7

Dirty Kanza setup test

after several adjustments the seat and grips and everything are ready

11laps of Macrea park ...ouch

Day 6

:)

Day 5

Bike is Ready

All that was left in my tire after 6 months

New Grips

Borrowed from another bike

One more bottle holder and it's ready

Day 4

DK200

So seriously looking at equipment choices for Dirty Kanza.  Guitar Ted and a couple others have me leaning towards bringing the mountain bike ....

And leaving the Cross bike at home.  I'm always a minimalist when it comes to bike choices.  What is the smallest tires and lightest bike I can make it on?  However with my COMPLETE failure in all races so far this year and the obvious fact that I am not even going to finish in the same time zone as the winner I really need to make it this time.  So here is my list:

Cross bike :

Faster

Lighter

Rolls easier 

-------

not so good in fresh gravel

I'm not as comfortable in fast descents 

tires aren't as tough (flint hills anyone)

needs new tires

39x28 is the low gear

Mountain Bike

Rides smoother

I'm good with 45 mph on the gravel with Disc brakes and 2.2" tires

Has new tires

I already have extra tires 

Stans-Notubes

22x34.....(it really is better than walking sometimes)

-----------

Weighs a TON

Tank

doesn't look as cool

So unless someone really influences me in the next week I think the Raleigh XXIX will be the bike of choice for the long ride.  I will be investing in these though:

and borrowing a brooks seat from another bike for the event.  I also will be shooting a very very short video at checkpoints and the end of my thoughts and maybe me throwing up after 16-18 hours of gravel so look for that in the days following the race.

No Gravel today....

Hill repeats and Intervals are fun (insert sarcasm).  So all I need to know is: is there a sarcasm symbol or Emoticon or something?  This could be important. Really!

So  32 miles and 2 hours of biketrail/B-road/and MacRae Park....

Good Times!  Or good enough.

Day 3

Mmm Mud

2 laps of Denmans and squirrels nest and no back pain!!!!
I'm hoping this is a good sign.

Day 2

Fat Tire Ride #2

Me and Anna got to go on another Fat tire fun ride and took my Dad along as well....

T- 1 Day
Day 1

Ready for a Fat tire ride

T - 2 Days