Cirrem IV

So Over all 4th Single Speed 45 overall and 4:58 Made my goal of under 5!

The morning started out with glazed ice everywere.  I watched in horror as I saw several riders eat dirt ahead of me.  I had a couple close one slid the back tire all over the place, however I'm pretty good at recovering rear tire slides ( I havent fallen this winter)  I also recovered a front tire washout on a downhill.  I slowed down a little after that.  After the first 20 miles It got better traction wise and a lot faster.  Then it got muddy and hilly.  I only had 5 minutes of pause time over all and made 4 stops (potty breaks) It was alot of fun...or thats how I choose to remember it.

Trans Iowa Training - Century 2

B Road outside of Avon  rode the corn field around the mud hole
on the other side there was a blazer that didn't make it all the way through

No it's not....

Or ya it is!

Feeling better after 94 miles on the mountain bike with about 8 miles of walking b roads.  Still kept up a 10.2 mph average.  Feeling better about the race at this point.

First Metric for the Week

Made it up the hill in my gear ratio!

April Fools Century (or Double!)

There is a least one un ridable b road.  ERT and some other fun stuff..

So Pain ANYONE?  April 1 (so far) 4am...

Win, Fail or Draw?

So I'm currently in the process of training for Trans-Iowa, Remodeling my basement and just my normal day to day life.  The balance in life is very hard anyway, but as I complete something on my remodeling I'm missing training goals.  Then on the weeks I make training goals I don't get anything done at home.

I'm on of those people that has the Failure is not an option attitude.  I focus on my failures so much I forget anything that was a "win".  I've alway been negative but it's getting a little out of hand!  So I'm going to make a point to focus on the win and still find a way to push myself other than off a cliff.

So today (if I publish this the right day)  is the biggest win of all.  5 Year smoke free, or is that the big win?  I did build a bathroom/bedroom in the basement from scratch.  Payed off all my credit cards (seriously), installed Keggorator in man cave.  I lost almost 100lbs since 07.  I'm sort of raising 3 kids.  I haven't drove to work since 2008.

Surly Pugsley Review

So, I'm actually going to review the newest fad...fat bikes.  I got my Pugsley:

First Ride on ERT

I only changed the seat, Grips and added a rack.  Seriously the bike is still stock!  I'm at about 2,000 miles on it now and it's about time for first impressions.  

So I hate the term snow bike, I have only rode mine in the snow 3 times and it's not a snow bike.  This bike works great on pavement, gravel, sand, underwater, grass, mud, etc.  It's a handicap for sure on any surface other than deep snow, sand, and thin mud.  The only really bad area I've found for it is peanut butter mud the bike picks up a lot of it and get so heavy it's impossible to carry.  I however like being able to go out for a casual pace ride and get an excellent workout.  40 miles will leave you feeling like you did 5 set of leg weights.  It's also nice to ride with kids you get some workout and aren't sprinting off .  Plus nothing cooler than passing someone on a tri bike with 4" tires...zone 5 anyone

Tires:  So the main thing on these bike are the tires.  Ya big.  Okay that aside very thick and heavy tires I also added slime after an epic 6 tire changes on one ride (locust tree).  I'm going to wear out the stock tires and get a set of husker du's.  

So all I can say is if you don't want to buy one DON'T ride one....they are like bike crack addictive!

Longest Pugsley Ride so far : 92 miles.... feels like 160.

ERT Mud time :)

Thanks Troy good times in the mud

Cheers Fuxeers!

Pictures from Brr 2012

BRR 2012

So a freezing cold day, in a blizzard.  As Jacob and I took off from the rest of the group to get warmed up and make it to Perry,  I couldn't help but think that in all my years of riding this was the hardest moment ever on a bike.  It also was one of the best.  I beat myself up for not riding back and really need to control my drinking, ya seriously!  So from here on out to Trans-Iowa I'm only going to drink 2 times a week!  Ya I know but this is the only thing that ever works for me.  

Century #1 2012

That always coveted January Century....

Winterset

Ya Shorts!

 And the Fixie KICKED my butt.