Dual Purpose Bike Weekend

The weekend was split between Saturday's annual Veloswap meet and Sunday's Cyclocross race at the Boulder Reservoir.Lines were 6 blocks long at 9:00 am at one of the nation's largest gathering of cycle re-cycling fanatics. Over 15,000 riders of all types crowded the Denver stockyards to find their next road bike or dump the beat-to-death downhill rig. Four hours in to it, I had spent $67 and had a bag full of stuff I hoped would fit or come in handy later. Nuts, pins, tools and nothing of any real value. With that out of my system, we readied the COMo trailer for another fun cyclocross race.

The popularity of the sport is evident when you see signs like this one and massive 75+ riders starting lines.

Week by week, the Yeti ARC-CX bike sightings grow in numbers.

This Colorado Bike Law racer adorned what was most likely representative of the "goathead" stickers that plagued riders who ventured off the course main lines.

Early morning junior racers were treated to hot cocoa and cookies to replenish their sugar stores. Word of the cookies started lines forming until they were all but gone...quicker than the beer went in the afternoon.
One of my personal heros of the sport, Stephen Oliver has the perfect l-o-n-g-b-o-d-y geometry required for the running ,jumping and riding of this all-to-the-wall sport. Stephen finished in the top 10 to the delight of his wonderfully supportive daughter who always cheers dad on.

Word was that the best line was IN the water instead of the traditional pack line being taken 12" to the right. Or maybe it was just the free wheel and "arse" washing that resulted from the spray????Stephen Iles again proved to be one of COMotion's most dedicated post-MTB season riders finishing well a head of rival Rocky Mountain Racers boys and a respectable top 10.

CX season provides an excellent opportunity to scout MTB racers for the 6th MSC Series title. Who looks good here in the 40+ woman's category? Dev Peterson or Karin Barclay?
Brian and John put on a hell of a series. Find additional info at http://www.boulderracing.com/ . We all live on the same small planet. Beginning with this series, COMotion Sports team will always provide an opportunity to recycle cans and bottles (and kegs?) yes...wherever we go.

Cyclocross Comes To My Hometown.....Thank you City of Broomfield

A week after the 24 Hours of Moab (736 mile RT) the venue and disclipline changed to my backyard and Cyclocross.
Part of the Boulder Racing Series, http://www.boulderracing.com/ the high-tech home of Sun Microsystems and other Dot-com industries became a cycling haven for racers invading Interlocken's East Park and the golf course like scenery south of the Denver-Boulder Highway 36 Turnpike.

In an effort to diversify our race team participation, we hauled the trailer and set up to support COMotion CX racers Stephen Iles, Todd Carver, Gary Peterson and Seth Ramsbottom.

8 o'clock had the pit poised with percolated coffee, sugar infested sweet rolls and hydration for any tempted souls. Drop-in mechanicals ranged from ..dude---can I borrow your pump (frigg'n valve stem peeked out barely 10mm from the Ksyrium rims) to "what the hell is this wrong with my cantilevers?" Iles even preformed a derailleur hanger-apendectomy on a recently crashed no-name bike.

Rider's complained that they were being run through sewer on the mud- fest crossing but trust me...it's just pure ole hydrogen-sulfide produced from the entirely natural break down and composting of organic matter. Still smells like cau-cau. Use a little Fabreeze or actually wash 'em before the race next weekend at the Boulder Res.

COMotion's Pro racer Steve Iles astonished the crowd with his slingshot start and lead in the 1 hour grand finale contest. A crash later sent Stephen to the ice chest for an ice pack to calm a swelling knee instead of the podium. Next week brother........

24 HOURS OF MOAB AS I SAW IT

COMotion teammate Kris Lathrop is leading in the Le Manns style start and was first to mount the bike on lap 1 at the 12:00 noon Saturday start.

I didn't realize, until I drug out the old 24 HoM long sleeve, that it has been 5 years since I raced the Grandaddy of 24 hour races. It must have made an impression because it seems like yesterday. The honorary "poacher's" lap we took on the course Friday was very, very familiar.

No racing for me this year but all the same, there was a ton of work to be done in my support role for at least 4 teams camped in the "Butler Circle". COMotion racers included Chris Butler, Matt Juth, Bonnie Sandoval, Kris Lathrop and Kalan Beisel. Loose sand slowed the previous years average lap time by over 7 minutes.
I really have no idea how anyone placed, or how many teams were entered or any other worthwhile stats.

All I know is that if you set up a trailer with canopies, break out maintenance stands a 5mm hex wrench and chain brush they come out of the woodwork.

Cris Taylor and I took turns calming down wild-eyed races who all had the same story. "MY BIKE IS SHIFTING LIKE SH*@T!!

The Moab red powder AKA sand was working its way into every derailleur,cable and oily spot on the bikes.

I took a break between about midnight and 4 am but for most of the rest of the weekend stayed busy trying to keep riders riding instead of pushing the 14 mile course.

Two real heros of the weekend were the Honda and Coleman generators that allowed the wrenching to go on all night, re-charging of the critical lighting systems and providing watts to keep the yellow Topeak canopies glowing until dawn.

Mucho thanks to Mrs. and Mr. Joanna Butler for the beds, food and brewskis throughout the weekend. You guys rock.....

Dawn Sunday morning was coffee, smelly desert campfire smoke (no such thing as hickory and oak out here) and total BS stories about why we did not win and what we're gonna do about it next year. And we will......

Piece By Peace The ARC X Comes Together

"A BIKE IS JUST SOMETHING TO HOLD TWO WHEELS TOGETHER"
European Empella Frogglegs Cantilever Brakeset

OK... so much for stolen website product photos.

The real thing has arrived and and is under construction. No hurries, no worries, I am still on the Clydesdale training program eating what ever the hell I want until the new program sets in November 1. Fast-twitch muscles must be under there somewhere....

Basement office is occupied nightly working on the fun stuff.

Naked frame SN 8C0146M --Word is that the limited edition CX frame is sold out.

Excuse me, ahhh who's bike is this?

As if my head's not swollen enough.

Who the hell is T.D.W.I.???

As of October 2, Dura Ace'd 10 speed shifters, derailleurs, bottom bracket, cassette and cables. Froggleg canti's & Ritchey cranks,wheelset and road connectors.

Take your time cutting the Easton carbon steerer. Add a couple of Reynolds spacers. Measure twice--cut once. Done. Usual list of "problems" Canti's need extra washer on front, crank has a wobble, wheels need 48 or 60 mm stems & wider than standard road tubes. Too bad, last inventory counted 16 new road tubes on hand.

Finished October 7, still some fine tuning remains but she rides smooooth....The bike will be featured as the December 2007 Yeti Of The Month on the international website http://www.yetifan.com/.

One of 2 Yeti ARC CX bikes at work at the 9/29 Boulder Series race. Please don't dent the cones again Mr. Ramsbottom.

MSC SEASON ENDS FOR SPORT 50+ GROUP

After 7 venues, 12 races and over 3,000 miles traveled, the final podium for the series ended about the way I had expected.
Ed Ford, Golden 1st, Lou Supino, Boulder 2nd, Tom Kimmell, Colorado Springs 3rd and Dave Strouse, Broomfield 4th. Just missing the payoff was Larry Grossman of Eagle with 5th.

This group really got to be pretty good friends over the course of the year. With less than accurate point reporting on the MSC website, the 5 of us stayed in contact most of the year trying to keep it straight....I think we got it right on the last day in Keystone...The "official " rankings from MSC will forever be wrong. We toasted each other with champagne at the end so I guess competitors can be compadres too.. See you guys on the trail. Anyone doing the 24 Hours of Moab?

COMotion Sports Team Does the Job

In some ways it seems like a long time ago we began this task of repeating a 5th MSC title championship.

Then again, it happened all too fast and suddenly it's over. Makes no sense but think about the venues.

Nathrop..tried to kill Oliver and a way too big 5th wheel for Ben and me, Angel Fire....sharing condo with new friends, Crested Butte....sharing condo with old friends, Snowmass....thinking my next triple bypass would not be with Team Evergreen over Squaw, Loveland and Vail Pass, Telluride...4 days of family, puppies and mud, Eldora...bootleg watering station for team mates, weeping stitches, beer boiled brats and a thanks to our founder, Keystone....longest frik'n climb and wild ass descent in recent memory.

Thanks to all the teammates and sponsors who helped make this year a great one to remember.

CONROY AND COMPANY DO IT UP RIGHT-6TH ANNUAL YETI TRIBE GATHERING-

The 6th Annual Yeti Tribe meeting in Crested Butte, Colorado has been on the calendar since it was announced. Each year the boys at Yeti show their appreciation to "average Joe" Yeti owner by throwing down a weekend long agenda of food, fun, rides, bike talk, smack-talk, beer, SWAG and games.

Originally capped at 150 participant, pressure on the last week forced the crew to bump the attendance up to 200. And most showed up.
The highlight of event is the organized rides on Colorado's finest singletrack. Having soared down the Monach and Rainbow Trails near Salida two years ago and the legendary Steamboat Springs area last year, it was Crested Butte's turn to show off it's MTB trail system. No one was disappointed.
I will not attempt to cover the beauty of the countryside, ride group dynamics and new friends enjoyed. Check out the video at http://www.yeticycles.com/Video/Video.cfm.

The stitches came out Friday morning and getting on the bike for the first time in 17 days Saturday morning had me a little nervous. Of course I signed up for the "Epic" Trail #401 ride and suffered right along with the rest of the crew at over 11,000 ft. elevation. Sweeping singletrack through thick pine forest and open tundra side skirting fast sections made for an awesome rush. Incession was fine.... legs sucked. Sunday morning was a bit milder with a steady climb up the Snodgrass trail topping out and flying back down doubletrack for a solid half hour. Gotta do this again when the aspens are in full fall yellow.

View from top of Snodgrass.

For many of the group this was their first time attending the Tribe Gathering. I'm the old pro and one the few outside the company who can claim to have attended all 6 gatherings. The highly prized beer glass collection is in tact

ELDORA FROM THE SIDELINES

In an unusual act of maturity and common sense, I blew off both races at Eldora to allow the weeping appendage to properly heal. After several opinions from racer/medical types, the consensus was "Are you crazy?" A question I did not want to answer.

It did afford Teresa and me the time needed to fulfill the team trailer set up and annual BBQ and bartending obligations.

I also enjoyed watching from the sidelines as my series competitors sweated out the Saturday short track. All were ready to puke at the finish line. I felt compelled more than once to summons the defibrillator and crash cart from the medics. Since these guys usually beat me, I must really look pitiful after one of those anaerobic marathons.

We fed around 75 people burgers, brats, chicken, beans, corn on the cob and lots of Breckenridge Brewery beer from the COMotion pit set up.

Even Sugar got to chow down on some of that great Justin's peanutbutter.

Gotta go now and get ready for the annual Yeti Tribal Gathering in Crested Butte.....Sorry..sold out...YOU CAN'T GO!!

Stupid Is As Stupid Does.....

Of all the bone headed tricks in recent memory, Saturday evening will be hard to top.
With only 4 races left, the perfect attendance record has come to a sudden end.

Readying the RV for a fun filled weekend at Eldora, a freakish accident sent me to the local ER for 10 stitches in the right power leg erasing the possibility of completing 12 for 12 MSC races this year.

I'd like to say I was freeriding down some technical singletrack when I lost it after a 6' drop but the fact is I raked the leg across the edge of a poorly placed picture frame glass and peeled a silver dollar sized chunk of meat from the bottom of my shin right above the ankle. A location that requires major mobility for cycling.

Doc Williams says 12 days before the stitches can come out and laughed out loud when I explained to him I HAVE to race next Saturday.

Maybe those silly one-legged spin class exercises can get me through the short track warm up before they throw me out. With expert and sport riders 40+ all starting together, I can't last more than 15 minutes.

As Borat and Jon Chambers would say....VERY NICE !!!!!!

Hanging On By The Skin Of My Teeth

If you can believe the MSC totals... here's where we're at with 4 to go.

Rankings for Cross Country Sport Men 50+
1 DAVID STROUSE 958
2 ED FORD 934
3 LOU SUPINO 806
4 LARRY GROSSMAN 716
5 RON GAGER 542
6 THOMAS A. KIMMELL 386
7 RICHARD DODGE 342
8 STEVE AUTRY 328
9 LEWIS BLAYLOCK 294
10 KIM SPENCE 276
and 15 other locals and Viagra users.