Slim's Spot

Sunday Stew Ride 12/19/10

2010-12-30T18:37:00.004+01:00

With 2010 coming to a close, Mother Nature wanted to give the Stew Crew a memory they would not forget. Several inches of snow, freezing cold temperatures, and a wonderful headwind that seemed to change directions with every turn the riders made were only a few of the obstacles that 3 brave souls would endure.

The group rolled out a little later than usual due to the lack of parking that greeted the newest member of the crew. It certainly was not from all of the riders flocking to the best every-other-Sunday ride in the Rheinland Pfalz area. No, it was more or less from 3-foot piles of snow left from the plows as they tried to make an ice path through the neighborhood.

A few of the usual suspects were there with the exception of Jim (Sleepy Dwarf). Dreams of sugarplum fairies dancing on his pedals as he motored away from Chad and Slim were apparently all the convincing he needed to accidentally oversleep (wink, wink). Luckily, a new rider by the name of Mike joined the group and the gap was filled.

Along the route we saw signs of things to come. It was Sunday, and like everything else in Germany on Sunday mornings, the plows were not working yet either. The roads were covered in a slushy snowy mess and the group was relegated to the tracks left from cars that had braved the road conditions earlier. On their way out of Queidersbach they were also welcomed to a very dangerous ice covered short cut that left the riders no choice but to take the long way.

With a few extra miles in the crew’s legs, they made their way up the Stelzenberg hill past Sleepy Dwarf’s house. As the crew glanced back, Slim swore he saw Sleepy’s head peeping out over the windowsill with a grin on his face, but that very well could have been hallucinations from the brain freeze he was receiving from the frozen wind cutting through his thin hat.

The roads had cleared up a bit as the group neared the K-town area. They made their way through the valley to the first KOM. The pace picked up as the sign neared and soon Chad was off the front. Slim decided to keep the tempo steady and was doing his own thing, while Mike looked rather confused. Even though he had been warned about the zone, he apparently did not understand. He looked at Slim a little baffled as Slim told him “Go get him! It is to the yellow sign” Mike stood up and in an impressive move, reeled Chad in. A strong surge saw Chad take it at the line, with Mike nipping at his heels, and Slim just diesel truckin’ it in the back. Once over the climb Mike and Chad let up as Slim kept it steady.

Over the Ridge and down through the valley, Slim kept it pumping at the front. As the next KOM approached, he asked for no help. The sound of knobbies buzzed on the pavement occasionally silenced as the riders navigated through the thick patches of snow and ice that the plows had not moved yet. The tempo was high as all 3 riders remained together. About 3 quarters of the way up Slim blew a gasket, sat up, and announced it was up to the other 2 to finish it out. Apparently Slim’s engine was not the only one with problems as the other 2 made no effort to deal the final blow. The 3 rode across the line together, splitting the points. Once the KOM was reached, the riders found another surprise. It must have been quitting time for the plows the night before because the pavement came to an abrupt stop and 3-4 inch deep snow was all that remained.

On the down hill the road was slick and there was not much pedaling to be done. The hard earned sweat from the last 2 battles began to freeze and the riders started to cool. This seemed to be welcomed by Chad and Mike, but Slim was starting to suffer. Although he had been working hard at building his own natural insulation, all of the one armed beer curls and high intensity remote reach intervals had not quite paid off. He began to freeze and shiver.

As the group finally approached the final KOM, the snow began to fall. Not just a pretty flurry, but instead a blinding white storm that stuck to the riders. As the weather wore on the group, they chatted on the climb with no one feeling overly frisky. Once again all 3 crossed the line together.

With more than half the ride finished it could only get better from there, right? WRONG! The plows had once again not touched the roads the crew was about to travel. They cautiously picked their lines down the ice covered hills and back into what should have been the final valley on the way home.

As reported earlier, the shortcut normally traveled was ice and the group had to improvise a reroute. Chad suggested going through Krichenbach and like a fool Slim agreed. Why not add on an extra climb that is steeper than anything on the route that already leaves riders broken?

Once over, the riders were on the home stretch. The smell of stew beckoned Chad and Mike, while Slim’s primary concern was the cake and beer intervals he would suffer through in an attempt to build more insulation.

Officially the longest ride on the books, both in time and distance. While all 3 riders were originally going to share the BAMF award, an executive decision was made and this rides award will go to Mike. He just bought his cross bike a week before the ride, did the longest ride on the books, and stayed right in the thick of things. He has earned the title Iron Mike. At least until the group can break him on a future ride or he claims he overslept.

KOM 1 – Chad, Iron Mike, Slim

KOM 2 – 3 way tie

KOM 3 – 3 way tie

Riders – Chad, Slim, Iron Mike

12/19/10 3:23:56 extra distance due to detour 46.74 miles

Next ride is Jan. 2 2011, hope to see you there.

Jim and his tiny German critter friends dreaming of Sugarplum fairies

Sunday Stew Ride 12/5/10

2010-12-06T13:06:00.004+01:00

I awoke to a pleasant surprise Sunday morning. No snow, no rain, and a good bit warmer than the past few days. This was especially nice because the forecast the night before had called for two inches of snow and about five degrees colder. It was still only 30 degrees, but hey, it is better than 25. An executive decision had been made to ride the cross bikes the night before due to the weather, and while it was a good choice for some of the snow and ice covered roads, it proved to be the destroyer of legs and souls.

In an effort to continue with the theme of last week there was a group photo shoot. Jim decided that this ride his hands were not coming out of his gloves, so the shoot took place before the start. It also might appear that Jim is in motion and blurry in the group photo, this is because he is just so damn fast even pictures can’t capture him. You may notice he was also not in last weeks photo shoot. It is kind of like trying to catch a glimpse Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster.

The ride rolled out on time, four strong. The brave little soldiers this week were Chad, Jim, Jen, and Slim. As the group rolled through Queidersbach, I began to hear it… Squeak, Squeak, Squeak. He’s back! It was the return of Squeaky. Only this time it was different. It was consistently squeaking with each pedal stroke. I began to wonder what was going on and I have come to the conclusion that it could really only be one thing. Very similar to the motor Fabian had hidden in bike to aid in his victories in the major Spring Classics, the squeaking had to be a hamster hidden in the seat tube of Jim’s bike. The hamster of course was connected to electrodes that ran to a button on Jim’s shifter. When Jim needed more power, he pushed the button, electricity was sent surging into the hamster, which caused it to squeak and spin its little legs off on a wheel attached to his rear wheel. I mean, that can really be the only plausible explanation.

On our way out of Queidersbach, Jen felt she did not have the legs for the ride and decided to turn back before she was too far into the winter slog. Over the Stelzenberg monster and down into the valley, we muscled on with the sound of nobbies buzzing on the pavement. Now three strong, this would be the first battle royale of the ride, only this time it was not in a zone or even known to the other riders that Slim was about to blow it up. To the surprise of the other two, Slim began to engage in a b***hfest. Things heated up and eventually cooled down. Decisions were made to remedy the problems and the three musketeers soldiered on.

The sprints this week had been neutralized due to road conditions, so the first real zone was the KOM out of Molschbach. The tempo was steady and high as Chad led it out. Jim flew past Slim, who was obviously tired from pushing against all the hot air coming out of his mouth earlier. Chad managed to pip Jim at the line, with Slim limping in a little behind. Soon the musketeers were groupo compacto as they made their way down the next ridge towards the second KOM.

The second KOM once again saw Chad set a steady rhythm at the front. Slim could only watch as CHIM strolled off the front. And then it happened, CHIM blew up and all that was left was Jim. Slim reeled in Jim as Chad effortlessly rode away. As SLIMJIM zigzagged up the climb we began to see a rider. Could it be that SLIMJIM was pulling Chad back? Not a chance! Somewhere up the climb Chad had dropped a decoy dressed similarly to fool the chasers. Well, when you get in the pain cave things become distorted and Chad’s decoy worked. Jim finished second, with Slim in the rear making sure no one dropped any water bottles.

In the valley, the group tapped out a steady pace and took turns pulling through the crisp, cold air. As they approached the final KOM, Chad pulled off the front, and Slim announced he would not be pulling through. There was not a peep to be heard out of Jim or his hamster. As we turned around we saw Jim dangling back a bit. Chad turned and once again motored off the front. Chad made it a hat trick, Slim finally didn’t finish last, and Jim was on water bottle duty.

At the top of the final KOM there were only remnants of the three cross riders. Each tiny bump in the road became a mountain. The riders were glad there were no more zones for two reasons: first there was nothing left in the tank, second it was really getting old watching Chad ride away from the other two. Beaten and broken they made their way towards the stew.

When the dust cleared and settled, Chad’s cannon was still victorious over Jim’s sword, and sadly, Slim did not get the memo and brought a slingshot to the fight. This weeks B.A.M.F. award goes to Chad! Take a bow Chad.

Since a bracket was not forged from the hot fires of Mount Olympus to carry the coveted Stew Ride prize, last weeks winner had to settle for a mug shot. For those of you that do not know, this is Jim.

KOM 1 - Chad, Jim, Slim

KOM 2 - Chad, Jim, Slim

KOM 3 - Chad, Slim, Jim

Riders- Chad, Jim, Slim, Jen

12/5/10 2:45

Next ride is Dec. 19, hope to see you there.

Sunday Stew Ride 11/21/10

2010-12-02T11:23:00.004+01:00

Better late than never I always say (I am usually late so I have to try and put a positive spin on it). I can blame it on the holidays, friends, family, or any of the millions of excuses that come to mind, but the truth is… I just haven’t got around to it. The next Stew ride is already upon us and I am only just now finishing this report. Well, for the number of you that were either the late or nevers from the last ride or those of you that are interested, here is a quick and dirty of the events that transpired.

The Stew Crew cruised out of Bann on time and 5 strong. A few less than had committed, but I like to consider it a work in progress. It was a chilly morning, but overall, a nice break from the seemingly endless rain that had plagued the area.

The crew rolled along through Queidersbach on to Stelzenberg. There, we picked up Trent and made our way through the valley towards the first unofficial sprint. Not everyone was on the same page here and as Jim surged forward to take some pics, Chad jumped on his wheel and then attacked to take the one-man sprint. I instead opted for a photo shoot, but decided it was a little too cold to unzip the jacket a little and show some skin, so all of you will just have to wait until the summer to see my bird chest and amazing cycling tan. Jim rolled down the line getting everyone’s photos and then a few group shots, which we hope to see soon. (hint, hint Jim)

The pack soon arrived at the first KOM. The dynamic duo SLIMJIM went off the front, with Jim passing Slim at the line. Followed by Jen and Gil. Chad hung back with Trent for a little bit until Trent peeled off. At the top, the Fab. Five regrouped and pressed onward towards the next climb.

The next KOM saw SLIMJIM and Chad roll off the front with Gil in tow and Jen bringing up the rear so as to not damage our fragile male egos with another top 3 placing. The group split up the slopes spread out by a handful of seconds. It was Slim, Chad, Jim, Gil, and Jen.

With the Fab. Five back together we began our way down the bone chilling descent. One of the longer descents of the ride, it rolls around the ridgeline for a while. Jim took a flyer here followed by Chad and Gil. For a little bit, I thought Jim was going to one-up Chad’s flyer from the week before and try to take the next KOM from 7 miles out. At the bottom we found Jim waiting and the first thing to come out of his mouth was “I like to go downhill fast”.

Now in the next valley, the group began the slog up to the final KOM. It is around 5 miles from the time we turn onto the road to the top and it is up hill the whole way. The group rolled along, gradually gaining elevation with Jim and Chad tapping out a steady rhythm at the front. The first spike in the road saw Jen and Slim go out the back, losing ground with each pedal stroke. Still able to keep the other riders in sight, we watch as the next spike saw Gil get left in the wake of the pain train a.k.a. CHIM.

Now from here, I lost sight of CHIM and can only speculate on what actually happened towards the top. Since I was not there I am going to assume it was a great battle that involved swords, cannons, and a damsel in distress. Chad’s cannon trumped Jim’s sword and the damsel just laughed at two grown lycra clad men engaged in a duel involving swords and cannons. Slim rounded out the top 3 followed by Gil and Jen. With the Fab. Five regrouped once more, they headed down the monster descent to the final sprint.

The group practiced pace lining for a while until Slim took a flyer for the final victory. The effort was short lived as CHIM got on his wheel and passed him. CHIM flew past and eventually Jim took the final victory as Chad spun out his cross gearing. With all the zones behind the riders and the smell of stew beckoning, the Crew made their way back to Bann.

A new prize is introduced this week. The overall winner in points for all the zones will be the Stew Ride Champion and his/her prize is one of great value and presteige. Below is a picture of the champion’s prize. Once a bracket is made, it will be the champions responsibility to complete the following stew ride with the prize mounted on their bike for all riders to see. Due to not yet having an official points system for the zones, this weeks B.A.M.F. is Jim.

Sprint 1- Chad*

Sprint 2- Jim, Chad, Slim, Gil, Jen

KOM 1- Jim, Slim, Jen, Gil, Chad

KOM 2- Slim, Chad, Jim, Gil, Jen

KOM 3- Chad, Jim, Slim, Gil, Jen

* Chad was the only one to sprint, everyone else was involved in the Stew Crew photo shoot

Riders- Chad, Jim, Slim, Jen, Gil, Trent

11/21/10 2:43:32

Next ride is Dec. 5, hope to see you there.

The Sunday Stew Ride 11/7/2010

2010-11-08T10:29:00.003+01:00

The inaugural stew ride rolled out of Bann with 5 riders prepared to brave the dreary, winter, German weather. Rain and cold were in the forecast and the chances of actually seeing the sun were zero.

Through Queidersbach, we discussed the route, the weather and the many, many sounds of Jim’s bike. He would drop back and talk, roll back up and there would be a new one. Squeek, Squak, Swoosh, Click, Clack. At this point, I realized there would be no sneak attack from Jim on the climbs, and I was actually a little curious what sounds could be made if he wound it up for a sprint. Only time would tell.

As we made our way to Stelzenberg, we would see the first splinter of the group. This was not a KOM zone and the idea was to roll up it as a group, but anybody who has climbed up to Stelzenberg from any direction knows there is not an easy way to do it. We regrouped at the top and began the cold descent down into the next valley.

The group rolled through the valley on the stretch that led to the first KOM. We took turns rotating on the front gradually rolling up hill. This would be the second and final split of the group. Not realizing we had lost two, we trucked on. Jim had laid back to make sure Brad was alright, and then began the chase to the group.

We made the turn for the first KOM and began the climb. We discussed waiting to see if Jim was on his way but after a vote a little more organized than a Wed. night RACC meeting we pressed on. We went up the climb at a steady pace and decided we would make this a neutral zone due to the confusion of earlier.

Now one KOM passed with no leader designated, we descended into the next valley towards the first sprint. As we made our way down the winding road the group dodged the smashed toad carcasses scattered about. We neared the first sprint zone and no one was feeling too frisky so the three riders rolled on through. It turned out to be a good thing because I had not realized the sign was next to a church and there was new road furniture scattered about on each side. Anyone who has spent enough time in Germany knows that while you will never see a German J-walk, they have no problem parking their cars wherever they feel like it.

The next climb was pretty uneventful. I picked up a few KOM points with Chad in tow, followed up by Justin. We descended into the next valley and began our journey to the final climb of the day. As we turned on the road towards Johaniskruez, Chad took a flyer. Justin and I talked as Chad tapped out a steady rhythm and began to pull away. I didn’t think too much of it, expecting him to get tired, bored, or lonely on the 5-mile trek to the top. It soon became apparent that he really had no intention of allowing it to come to a climbing duel. He soloed to the top taking final honors on the last and biggest climb of the day.

With the group pretty much blown up we followed the smell of stew and fresh baked cookies back to the house. The only thing really going through my mind was beer and getting my feet out of the puddles of water my shoes had collected over the trip. We finally caught up with Jim, and in an effort to head us off he zig-zagged around the route missing us by a few minutes at a couple locations. I never got to hear the full extent of the sounds of his bike, but all in all it was a great ride for the first time. There are a few kinks still to be worked out with the zones but the tally is as follows.

KOM 1- neutral
KOM 2- Slim, Little Lance, *Crossed up, ** Squeeky
KOM 3- Little Lance, Slim, *Crossed up, *** Squeeky

*- Completed ride on Cross bike with Knobies
**- Not sure if Jim went up the climb
***- Sounds like Jim went down the climb and back up it before we even got to it

Riders- Chad, Justin, Jim, Erik, Brad

11/7/10 2:45:17

Next ride is Nov. 21, hope to see you out there.

Paris - Roubaix

2010-05-13T15:03:00.004+02:00

Still playing catch up, but it won't be long until I am up to speed. The next stop was Paris - Roubaix. This race is known as the Queen of the Classics and for good reason. Unlike the Tour of Flanders this race is board flat, windy, and if the weather is cooperating, a real nasty mess.

This time around I was not able to make a weekend out of it, instead my friend Chad and I loaded up the car and decided to make the 4 hour journey each way in one day. We headed out around 8 a.m. and the plan was to see the riders pass through the Arenberg Forest. This area is possibly the most famous section of the race and once again is usually the sections that separates the men from the boys.

Overall, the trip there was pretty uneventful. Smooth sailing the whole way and fairly pleasant other than the obnoxious noise from my GPS informing us of Belgium's many speed cameras about every mile. I also found it kind of neat that we ended up driving through 4 different countries on the way there.

Once we arrived we parked the car and began the trek to the site where the race would pass. We definitely came under prepared as most other people had grills, radios, and the works set up, pre-gaming the excitement that was soon to come. Before too long we reached the small town just outside of the forest. People were happy, laughing, and enjoying themselves waiting for the caravan of sponsor cars followed by the riders.

While we were waiting, Chad and I decided to walk the 2.4 kilometer section of cobbles. I must say that after just walking this section I was amazed, these cobbles were no joke. It was incredibly rough with giant gaps between each stone and sharp edges galore. It made Flanders look like child's play. In fact, every mountain bike race I have done in Germany has been smoother than this. Of course that is not saying much, but still it was crazy to think that these guys would be going over 30 mph on road bikes sandwiched between barriers and rabid fans.

Soon we began to see the helicopters circling over and we knew the riders were not far at all. Everyone began to lean in over the barriers and just about that time WHOOSH a neutral support car came flying by inches from mowing down a few fans. Then the cheers started and the sound of rumbling from the riders tires off the cobbles neared. The first group of riders came flying by but not far behind was the peloton lead by Cancellara with Boonen in tow. Those guys made the awful pave look so smooth and effortless. Sadly, that did not apply for all the riders. After the initial break away and leaders of the peloton other riders looked like they were holding on for dear life. Their bikes bouncing back and forth under them with no control and the Oh Shit! look smeared across their faces.

Following the riders was the caravan of team cars with spare bikes, wheels, and broken or busted riders who withdrew early. While watching the cars fly through the section I noticed riders weaving in and out of them trying to regain contact with the group ahead. I could only imagine what this must be like as I think riding the cobbles would be difficult enough, let alone having to worry about riding them and possibly getting run over too.

Once the excitement had passed it was a mad dash for the car. Everyone was leaving at once to catch the riders at the next section of cobbles. Chad and I made an executive decision on the way to the car and decided to go straight to Roubaix to watch the finish in the Velodrome. Along the way we saw the riders criss-crossing over the autobahn we were on. I tried to give Chad race updates as he drove, but I really had no clue who was where and was just guessing by the colors they were wearing because they were just a little too far away. Hey, it sounded legit at the time.

We arrived in Roubaix, parked our car and began the walk to the Velodrome. It was a few miles away but we had time. Once there we were able to watch the race on a giant screen the organizers had put up for the fans. We watched as Fabian blew the race apart and motored away from a frustrated Boonen and demoralized chase group. A little while later Fabian arrived to thousands of cheers claiming his second title. Everyone else trickled in slowly broken, beaten, and tired looking.

This was a great opportunity of a life time and one that I will not soon forget. While I did not get to take pictures because I forgot my camera I will always be able to watch it on T.V. and know exactly how ridiculously hard those sections of cobbles are. I have a new found respect for all of those riders that compete in that race.

All said and done, I was able to cross a few more things off my list. I saw Paris - Roubaix in person and also got to pee in 4 different countries in one day. Success!

Tour of Flanders

2010-05-11T10:07:00.015+02:00

The classics have come and gone and so has a bunch of time since I last posted anything. Things have been in full swing since my trips to northern Europe and time has been flying by.

Tour of Flanders

We headed out a few nights before the Tour of Flanders and made our way to Brussels. We stayed at the Hilton and boy was I excited to get a big comfy bed and a nice place to sleep. Unfortunately the Hilton in the U.S. is quite a bit different than the match boxes they offer in Europe. We opened our door expecting to see a nice room and instead we were welcomed to a wall. We shimmied through the Indian Jones style hallway, but sadly there was no little golden statue or arch of the covenant,only a bed and a small closet door that turned out to have a shower and a toilet stuck in it. Little golden statue or not, I was in Belgium about to experience something I had only watched on television and I was going to enjoy every minute of it. The next morning, I was going to get to pre-ride the last 75k of the race and get to experience the famous cobbles that had decided the race and helped write cycling history so many times.

The next morning started a little rough. A late arrival to the hotel, lack of dinner, and a few Belgian beers left me in a little less than ideal cycling condition. Oh well, at least I had 75k of cobbles, rain and 40 degree weather to work it all off. A few friends and I loaded up the truck and made our way to Ninove (the finishing town for this years edition). We had to park a few miles outside the town and ride in due to the 20,000 other people who felt like braving the conditions to get a taste of the cobbles.

Once we neared the start line the smell of frites and burgers filled the air. Still feeling a little rough, I considered taking an early pit stop in the beer tent and setting up shop with frites in one hand and a beer in the other, but as tempting as it was I had to experience what I had only seen on t.v. so many times. We rolled out of the start area and began our journey.

The route rolled through the countryside and a few small villages but I was only interested in one thing. Soon the road we were on turned into more of a path which eventually spit us out into a town where I would encounter my first section of Belgian cobbles.

I had been anticipating this the whole trip and boy did it live up to the expectations. The first section started out rough, but I figured I would hold a loose grip and keep my momentum up. While it seemed like a good idea my expectations were a little high. After my hands went tingly my bike soon started bouncing off the slick, wet, cobbles like a pinball. With my teeth chattering together, I started thinking about how the pros attack down the gutters on each side of the road and how much smoother it always looked. I found the gutters and low and behold it was just as bad as the rest of the road. Before too long it was over and I was beginning to wonder if the beer tent would have been the wiser decision. One down and seven more to go.

The ride continued to roll through the beautiful countryside. Along the way the rain would come and go and every now and then the sun would peak out from behind the clouds to shed light on some amazing views. The next few cobble sections went by fast. They were not nearly as rough and demanding as the first and before I knew it I had begun the climb up the Muur-Kapelmuur. This is by far the most famous climb of the course averaging 9.3% and spiking up to 19.8%.

As the climb went on more and more people began to line the road cheering the riders on. I couldn't help but get the feeling the pros must get racing full gas to the top. I bobbed and weaved my way through the carnage of people slipping and falling on the wet cobbled climb. I came around the final turn to see the chapel and cross that overlooks the one of the most decisive points in the race.

After the Bosberg (final section of cobbles), it was a flight to the finish. It was pretty much downhill or flat with a crazy tailwind. This would only help me reach my ultimate goal of beer and frites. We made our way through the finish line, parked our bikes, and began the assault on the Frite stand. If you have never been to Belgium there are a few things you need to know, they love cycling, chocolate, beer and frites (fries). They have several different flavors of sauce for their frites and double fry them at 2 different temps. to fully capture the awesomeness of one of my favorite foods.

The next day Jen and I made our way to the Muur-Kapelmuur to watch the pros dominate the climb that so many struggled up the day before. We set up shop on the road at the base of the grass hill just below the chapel and cross. The fans were singing and cheering and before long Fabian Cancellara rocketed around the corner after dropping Boonen moments before. A few minutes later the shattered peloton made their way in groups up the climb with grimaces of pain and a few riders bloody from the havoc that had occurred throughout the earlier sections of cobbles.

After my adventure around the Belgian country side, I now have a new respect for the racers that attempt to write their names in the history books with the win of a lifetime. Television really does no justice for what these guys endure throughout 260 kilometers of punchy climbs and brutally, rough, slick cobbles.

Off to the Races

2010-04-17T08:33:00.002+02:00

I have had my very own version of a classics campaign, I rode part of the course for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and watched the race the next day, and made it up to see Paris Roubaix in both the Arenberg Forrest and the Velodrome. Sadly, I will miss the Amstel Gold race, but the good news is my season starts off tomorrow with an 80k mtb marathon. Check back for a write up of the good times at the classics and my report from the race.

Czech it Out

2010-04-07T20:49:00.000+02:00

Better late than never I suppose. About a month ago my wife and I made a trip to explore a new city and visit some old friends. After a 6 hour drive we arrived in Prague at Z and Tammy's house. It was refreshing to see some familiar faces, since we have not had the opportunity to get back to States since our move almost a year ago.

The first real day there Z and headed out on an urban bike ride and he gave me a great cycling tour of the city. We explored a bunch of it, climbing up the ridges on each side of it, to flying through the crowded streets flowing with tourist. We even had time to stop and take a look at these two guys. I don't totally know what they were trying to accomplish but I am pretty glad I don't have to stare at another dude while taking care of business.

After the bike tour, we returned to pick up the ladies and Z's son Jonas and made our way downtown. We explored more of the city by foot, seeing tons of cool things from the Presidents home and the Cathedral right out his back door.

The next day, Z and I went out to explore the still frozen trails. We rode through mounds of snow, slipped around on ice, and climbed what seemed like a wall to one of the ridges surrounding Prague. After our photo shoot we bombed down the ridge and made our way back to the house for a final round sightseeing and touristy adventure.

We finished up with the Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall, and a few other sights and headed back to house to call it a night and watch the U.S. play an incredible hockey game against Canada.

We had a blast seeing Z, Tammy, and Jonas again and look foward to more trips back before we eventually leave for the States. Thanks again for everything guys we really enjoyed it.

2010-03-26T14:40:00.001+01:00

It has been a while since the last post. Things have been hectic and I have all sorts of lame excuses as to what has been going on. The biggest reason is that I have a sickness that just will not go away. I have been to the doctors, been poked, prodded, and examined a few times now and I think I have finally beat it. There has been some setbacks in training and traveling but the weather has warmed up, the snow is gone, and as soon as I am off my antibiotics I am going to resume training. Also stay tuned for some good pictures from the trip to Prague where I visited my friends Z, Tammy, and Jonas and got a bike tour of the city.

Death by Dairy

2010-02-19T09:48:00.000+01:00

I had a little brush with some dairy products that reminded me exactly how allergic I am to them. My wife brought me home lunch from the base cafeteria which was a very nice gesture turned horribly wrong. A few bites into it I was not feeling too well and then it was a dash for the stairs to make it to the bathroom to see what those few bites looked like again. It turns out lunch was not the only thing I would see, along with the tacos, rice, and beans, was an apple, a little bit of breakfast, and a bunch of juice. Once that was over a took a few Benedryl and waited for a few minutes, but the swelling of my airways had already set in and we were off to the E.R.

Once we arrived, I received first class treatment and the biggest damn needle they could find. The I.V. was set, flowing like a garden hose, and the meds were on their way. A buzz and a few hours later I was good to go. They pulled the space needle out of my arm while my wife had a blast ripping the sticky sensors off my chest and sent me on my way.

Ice Rider 2010

2010-02-07T10:36:00.000+01:00

There are always many unanswered questions leading up to the first race of the season. I never know if I am totally prepared, if I trained enough, or if everyone else just got a good bit faster than me in the off season. I was clinging to hope that while I was pounding out the trail miles in the snow, sleet, and rain, everyone else was working their biceps with the .5 liter beer curl and bratwurst pump.

Nerves, anxiety, and doubt are just a few of the feelings that swirl around at the beginning of every racing season. This year, unfortunately, those feelings were replaced by a sore throat, runny nose, and a bunch of snow.

The morning of the race was a hectic one. The snow had not let up and we knew the trip to the race was going to take longer than planned. We ate a little faster, loaded the car, and were out the door buying us an extra half hour to add to our allotted travel time. It turns out this was not quite enough, as the snow had covered the autobahns and the plows were not clearing the roads just yet. There were really no defined lanes as the few people traveling that morning just kind of drove wherever they felt like. The snow had forced us to travel at 50-60 kph (30-40 mph) instead of the usual 130 kph (80 mph).

We arrived at the race 15 minutes after registration was supposed to close, but they were kind enough to allow late editions due to the weather. This left me just enough time to register, change in the car, and roll to the line without warm-up or any pre-race preparations. I got there just in time to line up behind probably 100 other people and had no idea what the announcer was saying.

Soon the gun sounded and we were off. The start was ridiculous, people were everywhere and the course was covered in snow. A couple of turns later and then we hit the first downhill. At this point the race became tricky. Not because of the course, but because of the kamikaze Germans. The snow had covered the roads we were racing on and below was a layer of ice over tire ruts from before the winter had come. The other racers, not usually known for their downhill prowess, would point their bikes in a straight line and bomb down the road until their tires caught one of the ruts which sent both bike and body flailing into the air and tumbling around in the snow.

Trying to avoid the carnage was futile as I soon became tangled in not 1 or 2, but 3 different wrecks in the first 3 miles. On the final crash I caught a bar-end to the knee, which pretty much grounded me for a few seconds. As I recovered from my Nancy Kerrigan like clubbing, I watched what I could only assume was a Tanya Harding relative in a Cannondale Jersey ride away unscathed.

For the next couple laps I hobbled around the course mostly having to push and carry my bike through the snow that was between ankle and knee deep. Being able to ride certain sections was a nice reward. If you know me at all you know I don’t really run, in fact it usually takes an angry wife, a mean dog, or an act of god to get me going. Add in a pair of bike shoes and I was not moving out anywhere fast.

Through most of the second lap the snow poured down on us making visibility difficult, by the third lap it had cleared up and rideable lines were formed from all the people trudging through the same spots. Riding soon became manageable and I was moving along. I finished the race upper mid pack, but felt no better than when I started. I was still congested and had a sore throat, but now I was also sweaty and had frozen snot on my face. My pre-season fitness questions were still not answered and my calves were sore as hell from mostly trotting around the course. Maybe I will have better luck next time.

Today=not so good

2010-01-28T21:59:00.000+01:00

I woke up this morning and felt like I had taken a hit to my head. I had a pounding headache and I couldn't breathe. Since my wife was working night shift, I knew it was not her getting payback for something I might have said.

I finally have my first race of the season this weekend and was actually pretty excited for it. I had somehow managed to do most of my training through the snow, ice, and generally crappy weather, but I think it has caught up to me now because I am sick. Plans are to still race, but to use it as more of a tune up to see where my fitness is.

Germany sees the Light

2010-01-21T16:12:00.000+01:00

Good News

Germany finally decided to wake up and join the rest of the world by allowing 29ers to race in their sanctioned events. They are the last in line and it will still take some time for the bigger wheels to actually gain some momentum here, but it certainly is a step in the right direction. After all if they are so much slower than why worry about someone who wants to race with a disadvantage.

Bad News

This part is mostly for me. This news came just after I finished piecing together a 26 inch bike so I could actually race. I spent as little as possible and cannibalized my wife's bike to accomplish this goal (she was at work and her parts were better than what I had), but it still lightened my already near empty wallet.

Rest Day Boredom

2010-01-14T22:11:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was kind of a rest day for me and with it still being below freezing outside that left few options for ways to past the time. Luckily, my email was getting full so I started cleaning it out and while doing so I stumbled across some senseless entertainment that I decided to share. It appears these people have more time on their hands than I do.

Always Wear Protection...

2010-01-13T14:55:00.000+01:00

When shoveling snow...

I started at 5 am with my usual Poptart and visit to the gym for my Wednesday hell session with my physical therapist. He calls it conditioning but sometimes I wonder if he just tries to see how hard he can push the group of us before someone throws up. I was happy on my way to gym because for a change the roads had been salted the night before and they were clear for a nice road ride. As I was leaving, SURPRISE, it was snowing and had covered the roads.

Afterwards I picked up my wife and went home to meet Frank for my now dreaded ride. Frank is a Continental Pro and is as crazy as me when it comes to riding in bad weather. After a little back and forth we decided to take the cross bikes out because the slush was going to be a little too dangerous.

We ended up actually having a good ride. I got in a solid 63 nasty snow miles and now can add another bike to the pile of salty, nasty machines that are still waiting for me to show them some love.

Resistance Training

2010-01-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

So, over night we received another 4-6" of snow. It made for very beautiful scenery and very tough riding. The winds here had whipped the snow around into a fine powder that settled into a thick layer that covered everything. Trying to pedal through it was ridiculous...

Maybe not quite 11, but you get the point. Anyway, after 4 hours in the cold the sun began to hide itself behind the ridge as I made my way home. My feet felt like blocks of ice and my hands had shifted past the frozen numbness into burning pain. I finally made it home, eventually thawed out, and found my wife slaving in the kitchen (boy am I lucky).

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-09T18:50:00.000+01:00

Before my wife and I moved to Germany I was rather excited. Being from the South I did not get to see much snow and when I did it was nice for a few hours, a day at most, and then usually turned to a slushy mess pretty quick. I was naive and did very little research on what the winters were like where we were going. I thought for sure I would XC Ski and have a good time in the snow. Once we arrived we were told it really does not snow here. Well as usual I brought a change of weather with me and we have had on and off snow for a few months now. Not enough to Ski but plenty to make for some interesting bike rides. Here are a few pics from the first snow of the year.

Hello Hello Hello

2010-01-09T11:11:00.000+01:00

It's a new year and things are starting off well. I have met some new friends, found some new trails, and I am still working on learning German. I started this blog to keep all my friends, family, and acquaintances along the way up to speed with what is going on in my life. From trips around Europe, to race reports, and everything in between I hope you all enjoy.