Quarter Rage

So 21 minutes on a fat bike!  I got 9th overall not sure if I'd do better on a mountain bike or not I might try that next time though

So daily updates...

Ya, not doing so well but here is somehting:

Short rides the last week with some higher intensity stuff.  I'm feeling pretty good about DK.  I also made it under 190lbs, but I'm not going to make the 180 goal :(

Ewing Park Mountain Bike Trail

I hit the new trail yesterday.  Not sure but looked to be either the first or second person to ride it.  Thanks Cita it appears to be another cool Des Moines trail!

Lots of log overs, this one is pretty cool.  moved a little though.

It isn't too skinny at least

As best I can tell the trail starts after crossing the bridge down by the play equipment.  Im not sure what way "forward" is but I rode it both ways and it works both ways.  I really wish I could have made it to one of the work days, but work and other obligations got in the way.
This trail will be a lot like Sycamore when it get burned in a little bit, but for the moment go slow look out for little sticks and scrub the poison ivy off your legs when you get home.

Day Off

Did some light riding yesterday, and yes I cheated and had a few beers....

Day 10

Well day 10 with NO BEER (actually no alcohol at all) and day 17 Vegan (cheated once).  I'm Down about 5-6 LBS and have 14 days to go to the target.  I decided to stop the diets 3 days before DK so that I can get enough food down for the race and maybe some of my sanity back.  So here is the test:  last night watching Man vs Food and eating broccoli and mushrooms...Really were is my ribs/pork sandwich/taco/etc....  It will pay off at the DK finish line.

Long Ride

Took a 130 mile Trail/Gravel ride yesterday.  Raccoon River Trail to Cooper then Gravel to Woodward then High Trestle Home.  Was a Very hot day got way dehydrated and some light muscle cramps too.  Feeling good this morning though.

I also found some new ATV trails up near Perrry on the new piece of the RRVT, rode a mile or so of them, looked like there was a lot of trail back there.  Definitely coming back on a Pugsley at some point

Day 8

With day 8 of my "diet" I have just finished an 8 day work week finished off with 2 12 hour shifts... Last night I was told "You must be feeling better today, you are acting more like a sarcastic ass-hole".  It was also determined that I will be referred to as Zms Vader...WIN!  I think?, but I do feel normal now no more inside turning inside out feeling nor do I feel tired All day.  If you want to try something stupid give up all animal products (yes no cheese!!!) and alcohol all at once.  This bring new meaning to hard core racing.

So my "big" race is DK200 and it is in less than 3 week (19 days) I'm ready, but I still need to loose 10 lbs.  So no more beer till the week of the race (looking a brew 2 days before).  I mean you cant call it a Vacation if you don't have some beers, right?  Plus we race for fun/challenge and this diet before is a big challenge.  The race will be sub 20 hours the diet will be 28 days, you decide what is harder.

Training for TI9 begins in 21 days.....

Maybe it's time

One last long ride

Yehudamoon

TRUE....

Review : Stans ALPHA rims with Specialized Captan Pro

I looked for a long time for a tire that I could run tubeless on a cross bike without using a heavy and poorly treaded UST tubeless tire.  I got the Captan specialized and figured at worst odds they would burp and do stupid stuff and I could put them on an other bike.  However the wheels ended up perfect and 2000 miles on the tires now and no burps no flats.  I haven't been nice to these tires at all with a lot of road riding, single track and tons of gravel.  Rolling resistance doesn't seem more at 45 psi (max pressure) than it did with tubes at 70 psi.  I can tell that the wheels are a lot lighter than the Ksyrums that I had on the bike before.  Only con I have is that the rear tire is wore out at 2k and the center tread line is gone.  however I can sink $55 into a tire after 2k if they have no issues at all.  The Stans rims are set up with yellow tape and no rim strip, I was able to mount with a small compressor and had no 'second day flats'.  I used Ultegra rear hub and a Shimano n80 dyno on the front (for gravel lighting).

PRC ride

Another killer pair of hill loops tonight, cross bike on road ride is like a knife to a gun fight.

The only thing to fear is fear itself...and falling off the 2 foot wide bridge on the Mountain bike trail Again...

So after last year when I took this bike

Off this Bridge I've been a little stand offish at some mountain biking things... I guess its like riding a bike you dont forget how you just hesitate and then you don't make it over stuff.  So tonight I did several laps on hillside (I made myself ride everything)  then hit Rollercoaster for a lap.  I just need a little confidence to not slow down and realize that I can do it.  So 25 days Left to DK200.  Diet is going pretty good I'm at 192 and seem to be stabilized, however if I'm going to loose the last 10lbs extra (not sure if its even possible)  I need drastic measures.  What is Drastic?  Well a week so far of vegan diet has helped alot so I'll stick to that till dk, but unfortunately what occured to me on hillside tonight is the beer has to go for the month too.  I really like to drink beer, but I'd rather drink it in June and talk about how I finished something this year than drink it now and talk about how I'm not going to finish.....See ya on the trails A LOT since I'm not drinking I'll be riding!

Rock'n the pavement

After a very fast prc ride wednesday and a 13 hour work day friday I took to the trail this morning instead of the planned gravel metric.  40 miles in 2:40 (medium pace)  looking to do it again tomorrow.

Stopped to take a picture of a big turtle next to the great western trail.

I Like it

A NEW HOPE

No not like the Obama campaign, well I am going to spend lots of money, but it will be on bikes.  No the hope of which I speak is the hope of once again doing DAILY blog posts again.  I have lots of excuses but that is no reason to let down the 4 people that actually read what I post.  So get ready.

Back on

So 4 days ago i did the 2nd craziest race I've ever done.  Something 2 years ago in Wisconsin comes to mind....  however I missed finishing Transiowa this year and said "never again" after 4 days i got on my bike this morning.  It was great started to sprint a little then thought my race is over why am I doing this?  Then i realized its started and its too late I was thinking what do i do different next time.... crap I might do this again.  Of course.  Kanza then training for next year!