The Official Guide to the World between the Wheels

Iceman 2009

Made the trip this past weekend with Bob Myers to Traverse City MI for the 20th Iceman race. Weather turned out in the mid-fifties and the course was dry and fast. They added a few miles to the course between the start and some single track mid way. I actually like the change to the start and always welcome single track. However i did wish for some snow! I think i've raced the Iceman like 5 times and never has it been anything more than cold.

With warm temps and dry ground this race turns out to be fast and favors the roadies. Its a game of cat and mouse the entire way as you try to stick with the group or catch up to the one that dropped you. 17MPH average is a bit high for a mountain bike race in book. Anyway it was enjoyable as always and i really have to thank all the Fisher/Bontrager/Trek folks for their hospitality and support. Especially Bob who drove up with me and then took care of getting me to the race and picking me up. I really appreciate everything he does for me. THANKS BOB.

The race went off and lining up with more than a dozen top Pros has a very humbling feeling. Just who am I to think i can run with these guys...but hey anybody can win if its their day. We took off up the pavement and made the first turn at which time the real guys started to jockey for their placement. I slapped Sam Schultz (Fisher Subaru) on the shoulder and explained that i was going to take his rear wheel for a ride to the finish line. he politely said ok as long as i allowed no one in between! We'll that lasted about 300 yards before he pulled away.

I settled into a pace following another rider but quickly realized that several others were pedaling past and i needed to get around this guy. A quick move and I jumped into a group moving up through the pack before hitting the first bottle neck of singletrack.

From here on out it was a struggle to stay on top of the heart rate and breathing due to the wicked pace by everyone there trying to attack. At least twice i felt my lungs tighten and breathing became very shallow. Lucky for me the pace dropped back and i recovered before having to pull over and deploy the rescue inhaler to ward off a full asthma attack.

the groups thinned out the further we went until i was riding alone for the last mile or so. Finally another in the books! Iceman and a season behind me.

Its been a great year and having wonderful coaches from Eatough Coaching has really helped along with all the support i get from my local Shops and the guys at Fisher. I've won a few really tough races and had several other top finishes so it feels good to end the season with a great race like Iceman and all the fun that comes with it.

stork

Rattling Creek Marathon

With all of my training & coaching i was encouraged to do a few longer races this year (i do not particularly like these). So this past weekend had me driving out to Carsonville PA for one of Mike Kuhns classic events. Lets begin by saying his stuff is extremely well run! Pre-reg was easy, packet pick up and drop bags..easy. Food ready when the leaders finished rather than 2 hours later when the last people roll in and some have waited hours to eat. Well marked and great water stop support. This all does not go unnoticed! Great job Mike and all the volunteers!

The Race
So we lined up on an overcast morning and as i prepared for the 50 miles ahead i looked around and saw Chris Beck, Ray Adams, & Brandon Draugelis. All heavy hitters capable of turning some serious screws at an event like this. I've been riding with Brandon and seeing his previous results this year i knew he was on top of his game this year. Adding to that Chris Beck had just finished pulling off a couple of wins over Brandon! Ray...well Ray has always been a threat!

3,2,1 go! Ray pulls out ahead immediately and i follow with Brandon on my wheel. A short distance up the first climb and Brandon passes so i take his wheel. 2 miles into the climb and its clearly Ray, Brandon, Me & Chris. Thats when things changed. We hit a really nasty steep gravel road with 180 degree switchbacks. Brandon took over I followed awhile Chris trailed behind for a little. Ray had dropped off and as Brandon started to pull away Chris came around me giving me a little shove for motivation. I had nothing and watched as he and Brandon pedaled away up the climb and out of sight. Damn, I thought, only 5 miles in and i'm dropped! Steady goes it and i continued to the top.
The course changed almost immediately to single track (very tight in scrub brush). The rocks came out of nowhere and i found a nice groove with the help of the House DJ remixes playing on my mp3. two or three turns into the single track and i came up on Brandon & Chris! Yes thats what i needed!

The next 20 some miles was a change up of "follow the leader" while we all talked a little. The tempo was fast and I was so stoked to be tire for tire with these two guys as we railed through the forest.
Somewhere close to the half way point Chris trails off behind a little...i was thinking he's struggling in the rocks only to find out later it was a flat. Brandon & i continued but i needed to stop at the halfway point for water because i had missed my bottles at the first rest stop! Which clearly was going to destroy me and i knew it. Brandon eased up a little and i reeled him back into sight after my stop. But I was never able to get his tire again. several more miles and it hit....the leg cramps everywhere! Not enough water and now its too late! As i was one leg pedaling a section of road because of the cramps Chris came rolling by looking extremely strong! I then knew i had better do something so i pedaled out the cramps..which continued to return for the rest of the race making it a struggle to simply finish.

Now figuring that the two leaders where putting 10 to 15 mins on me I started to feel like i had better ride my own erace and simply finish with out destroying myself into oblivion. Soon after these thoughts i had the leg cramps under control (not gone-but under control) so i started to get back into a tempo and told muyself i didn't just hammer out 35 miles of racing with two of the top Pros to give it away. Sure i probably couldn't beat them at this moment but i could keep the gap to a respectable amount if i buckle down and get to the finish.

This proved to be true because shortly after i was getting word from the crowd that i was narowing the gap to Brandon & at this time it was close to 30 seconds. Wow i thought but surely i won't manitain that for another 12 miles to the finish. Well somehow i did and rolling across the line 40 some seconds behind Brandon and 2 mins behind Chris was the best race i've had so far!

To top it off these two top notch Pros came over and immediately congratulated me! I owe both them a big thanks for accepting me into there lead group and showing me the kindness of great sportsmanship. Hell 10 mins later Brandon was inviting me out to Blue Knob again to ride (is this so he can leave me up on the mountain??? I'm concerned!)

Anyway it was a really good race from a personal standpoint. I really owe my great coaching from Eatough Coaching for having me so prepared for these events. Sure I cramped up bad but i worked through it and at times had power that i never knew existed in my legs. All smiles...i'm outta here!

*stork

S&S trails 2009

Sunday morning Timmy Lyons and I headed over to Ohio for the OMBC race at S&S Trails. A great sunny day with lots of heat would find us racing through the almost 100 acres of Chris Skinners property. For a little more info on that read this. Anyway 4 laps around the 5.5 mile course before we could get our hands on the feast of food his family lays out..so i kicked it into high gear to get finished.
With my coaches having me training for these XC course races (under 30 miles) i had confidence that i would do well but never would have thought to be posting the second fastes time of the day! I felt strong for most of the race and even had enough left in the tank to sprint through the field into the finish line. My Superfly wrapped with Bontrager ACX worked really well on the course and i don't think another tire combo would have suited me better.
I want to say Thanks to all my friends there...always great seeing you guys and a big hand to Bob Myers for handing off a few bottles and taking the time to step away from his family to do so.
*stork

The Race (Mohican 100K)

So the word is out that I won the 100K Mohican race this past weekend but not without a little controversy. So let me explain.....

Our race started in Loudenville around 7 and as always I came for a good time with little expectations or goals of placement. I simply wanted to finish this year without cramping which has happened to me the past 2 years. We immediately pegged the pace and for some reason I i felt good enough to maintain with the group pulling away but only for a short time before getting dropped and setting in on a comfortable pace. Riding in a small group through the single track another pittsburgh racer (Steve Cummings) came around me and turned the screws a little more. Smart racing has taught me not to worry but ride your pace in such a long race. This is what I did. I then rode many miles with my good friend (& local Mohican trial rider) Steve Twining. Letting him lead the way around the single track was a good option and pushing him on the climbs helped us both. I had a great time riding with Steve and we politely worked each other over a little with our strong points until hitting an aid station where Steve needed more time to refuel and I wanted to get back on course as a group rolled through. We said our goodbyes & good luck and parted ways.

 

I then worked to catch the group and managed to only get by a couple people before hitting the road sections. Turning up the heat and pushing the 44/11 i did reel the larger group ahead into sight but was never able to get close enough to catch a wheel. They would pull huge gaps on the flats and rollers while I would work & work by myself to keep them in my radar. A short time later we rolled through the 3rd aid station where the 100 mile & 100K split. I was told that i had been chiseling time off the gap to the group ahead while adding time to my pursuing counterparts. 15 some odd miles to go and only one other rider out front. I also knew his strong points were hills which followed but the ending of this years course was taking us back over a little more than 5 miles of the Mohican trail that we had started out on which left me feeling confident that I had a chance of catching him. Railing around and into the Campgrounds where the course then narrowed back into the single track i was feeling happy about the day on the bike and had yet to feel the slightest cramping (which was a major goal for me this year---no cramping). True to form I blissfully carved my way through the 5 mile loop of trail but never managed to ever see Steve who should have been out front. Thinking he must have really just kicked it up I rode my pace as normal and came across the finish smiling while assuming I had taken a solid 2nd place. I was very happy with this since I rode well, felt well and had fun.
Oh but wait...there sits Bob Myers immediately asking me what happened??
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Bob says "well 2 guys finished 20 mins ahead of you".
"Impossible!" i said.
I stated that they had to have skipped the Mohican trail because there was no way the lead guy put that much time on me in such a short distance and the other rider was more than several minutes behind me and another rider was between us. He had not passed me or the other guy. With some sorting out the promoter realized an aid station had set up in the wrong location and these two guys had in fact not ridden the 5 mile loop. Now Steve (who was actually leading) rode down the correct trail a little ways before turning around thinking it was wrong but the other guy had missed it all together. The promoter took some responsibility but had they read the course directions (a stack of them were printed off and sitting beside registration) they would have known we were to double back onto the starting single track. Also the rider following me and several others all made the correct turns without someone there to guide them. Both riders were disqualified. I do feel a bit "short changed" not having the chance to reel in the lead guy but this is how racing goes and i'm sure he feels the same not knowing if he would have maintained the lead or gotten chased down by me. Never the less I was the days winner and slow, steady & smart racing can win.
Thanks to all my supporters..Fisher, Bontrager, Deans Dairy, The Heart Center at Butler, Smart wool Socks, Trek of Pittsburgh, Boone Ti, Bob Myers & Jerry Bliton. I also want to add a thanks to Steve Twining for leading me through the single track so quickly.

*stork

Equipment used:

• 2009 Superfly
• Stork Fork (re-worked Fox G2)
• Bontrager XDX Tires
• Rhythm Comp 29er Wheelset
• FSA K-Force Light 44T/29T crank
• Time Pedals 
• ESI grips
• SRAM drivetrain and XO Twist Shifters
• Bontrager RXL Shoes
• Trek Circuit helmet (new in 2009)

Mohican 100 2009

Saturday found me at Mohican Forest racing the 100K (60 mile course). I really don't train for or feel like I'm an endurance racer/contender but I like this particular event because it brings together a group of friends that i rarely see especially all at once. This weekend usually offers me the opportunity to sit and talk with the top Pros from the Trek family which provides me with great insight on things like tire choices and nutrition tips. I got that chance again since I had dinner with Chris Eatough, Jeff Schaulk, Chris Beck, Bob Myers, Jerry Bliton and my riding bud TJ Platt. I also get to see many other people I've raced with over the years since the Mohican pulls in such a large group of racers. All in all its very enjoyable catching up with everyone.
Above is a photo of Michelle Johnson & Jeff Schaulk talking after the race. It shows just how great the Pro really are. He just hammmered out 100 miles yet he's discussing race situations and trail conditions with the local level crowd.
In addition to the Trek crowd I also got to catch up with Jeremiah Bishop who now races for Cannondale (and also won the Mohican 100 this year) and i saw Brandon Draugelis (riding bud at Blue Knob) who had a career highlight finish in the top 5!! Way to go Brandon!!
Well more to come later about the race and the day in the saddle......
*stork

Iceman Thanks!

Another year at the Iceman! Seems like Michelle likes all the fast guys!

< (notice I'm not in the picture) JHK, Travis Brown, Michelle, Chris  Clinton (behind Michelle), Jeremiah Bishop (Iceman 2008 Champ) and Sam Schultz. We raced with'em on Saturday during the day then actually got to go out to dinner with this fine bunch later that evening. Oh yea lets not forget Travis Ott the illustrious leader of the Fisher 29er Crew (pictured on the far left with his back to us). Thanks a bunch to him for all the support throughout the season.

Ok you're all wondering how I did.. well I had a blast this year! Not being sick like I was the previous year made for a much better experience. I had decided to start out slow and had absolutely no goal for a finishing time! I simply wanted to have fun which is exactly what I did! I rode with fellow 29er Crew member Dan Kotwicki for a few miles of chasing down the guys out in front of us and then got on with another group before breaking away from them to finish out chasing a few solo riders. One of whom races the OMBC series with me, Ben Ortt. I caught up with Ben with less than a mile to go and rode out to the finish just on his wheel. This put me somewhere around 30th and maybe 8 or 9 minutes behind the winning time.

Let me just jump in here and explain the times and the race.... it starts very very fast and getting a position on with the lead group really matters if your interested in racing for the "Iceman Cup". I have a very realistic outlook and attend simply for the experience and fun of the event so I do not put myself in the front with the contenders. Secondly being up there would require me to "sit in" and avoid pulling because these guys are real fast, this is something I'm not comfortable doing. Instead I settled in with other racers that clearly would be my competition in a normal mtb race and I did my fair share of pulling and attacking to break up these groups. In fact I actually settled into a good pace and managed to pull myself forward in the rankings by powering up ahead catching on with others and then working with them or attacking so I could move forward to the next group. I was very pleased with my results and how I raced. That being said should explain why there were very small time gaps between people. With a very flat rolling course (sure there was 2000'+ feet of ascending but it was all rolling) riders were able to "hang" onto groups and take advantage of their drafts. If this course had just one or two substantial climbs the time gaps would have been much different.

What an extremely fun time and I really need to say thanks to a bunch of people, First and foremost to these two guys Travis Ott & Bob Myers for putting up with me and even after knowing me still supporting me after that fact! Then to Mike Shrifty, Chris, Sam, Todd, & Jeremiah for the support at this years event. Timmy Lyons for pumping me up with enthusiasm & riding with me all the time. Lastly for my local support throughout this year and last - Don O & the Trek of Pittsburgh stores who provided part of the Thule rack capable of handling all four of the bike that made the trip! The other half of the rack was loaned to me from my friend Casey a Pitt Univ. student, bike rider & bike mechanic! Thanks dude!!

More to follow including some video & pics from the trip.

< JHK, Heather, Travis, Sam, Me & Jeremiah with the Iceman Cup!

*stork

Fox Creek OMBC

Made another trip west yesterday for the Fox Creek Outdoor Expo which had one of the last remaining OMBC races for this season there. Wonderful day in the woods with the fall foliage & friends. Big thanks to Bob Myers for stopping by on his Mendota & the BW3 wings after the race. Also a thanks to Lindsay's dad Al for the water bottles & photos. Look at all these guys getting serious & checking equipment at the line...I was only worried about my music!

stork

Still racing...occasionally

<<<Supa-Cruzin on the Supa-Fly. Just a few more races left for the season. OMBC West Branch had me cranking the featherweight Fisher Frame to victory. More importantly I had a great time being outdoors with the falling leaves, fresh cool air and wonderful friends.

*stork

Dillion Fest

Last Sunday, august 31st, found me near Zanesville Ohio for another XC race in the OMBC Series. Warm weather, dry trails and a sunny day made for a great time in the woods. A few years ago I attended this event with my Fisher Rig single speed and it was a small course with multiple laps including a sledding hill climb and one short hike-a-bike. This year the course changed and there would only be 2 laps of an almost 15 mile loop of dry, tight twisting rocky off camber single track! How lucky are we?

I was glad to have picked the Superfly 29er for this year. I love the rocks and this course for sure was about to deal us a few. I lined up and found Bob Myers there to cheer us on so I threw him a bottle to hand off to me and said Hi. We were off and I didn't want to be setting the pace for the open flat field section that came first but no-one else was overtaking me so I powered on but took it easy thinking someone was ready to pounce on me as we entered the single track. I then noticed that I was actually pulling a small gap so I stuck with it and into the rough stuff we went. It wasn't very far into the rooty rocky stuff before I noticed I had dropped the group and was already picking my way through the Expert Seniors who had started out about a minute ahead of us Vets. The course was nothing short of a complete blast and I really enjoyed the entire 2 1/2 hours of pain. I managed to hang onto the lead (thanks to the multiple rock gardens and climbs) and also took 3rd overall. I cleaned up with some of this awesome stuff and headed back home. A big thanks to all my competition for breathing down my neck & pushing me that day also Thanks to the Fisher, Bontrager, Deans, Heart Center, Boone Ti, Trek of Pittsburgh, Smartwool Superfly. Gotta get all the sponsors in there.. I appreciate all their support!

*stork

Back to the beginning

Sitting around on Sunday morning doing something I'm very good at.... drinking coffee I realized there was a small race in Ohio at a very famous placed called Vultures Knob. Spinning in my chair to see the clock in the kitchen I then came to the conclusion that I could still drink coffee for another hour before I would need to leave to make the start. "Excellent" I thought!

Not so long ago back in 2001 shortly after purchasing my first bike a few friends persuaded me to try racing. It was a cold day in early March when we packed up and drove to this exact place. It was snowing during our drive & continued to do so during the race. I still remember having to pedal one full lap and how much it felt like a short sprint. Sure it hurt, I mean I had just started riding but with only 6 miles of racing you simply went red line the entire time leaving nothing in reserve for another lap because it wasn't needed. I won the beginner race that day and came home with a lovely Pine tree hand dug from the property by Dr. Knob himself. (Dr Knob- gray shirt center)

Moving back to the present..... I usually don't go back here much due to the features of the course that sometimes cause some pretty bad crashes and bottle necking. Recently I had heard that CAMBA and a few good men have been cutting alternate routes around these to help spread people out and offer a safer trail. My mind was made up I packed the car and off I went. Since the series is new again this year it hasn't drawn a large crowd but looking at the results it still manages to pull in more than a few of the fastest guys in Ohio depending on the other events happening the same weekends.

I arrived to find a more than I expected including two of my teammates from Area 106 Steve Twining & Whitney Jones both ready to ride. I put the kit on and chose a weapon for a quick pre-ride with Steve. It was my 2006 Rig equipped with the new G2 fork but only a short distance in while trying to follow Steve I realized I had better switch up to the Superfly  if I wanted to stay with these guys on the open flats.

Dr. Knob in tradition started the race with a Duck Call and we were off. Positions changed a few times  between 4 of us before we had reached the half lap point. At that time Steve & Whitney had a small gap on me which they maintained for the remainder of the first lap. As we approached the start/finish line I had worked past Whitney & back up with Steve. We rode the next half lap wheel to wheel before I passed him and worked a small gap to hang on to the win.

Its always a good time racing with Steve and even a better time just riding with him. His control of the bike in the tight turns and switchbacks leaves me wishing for the same skills. I notice quickly that I loose ground in the tight stuff but quickly make it up by having a bit more power (only for now because once Steve gets back in shape there's no hope for me)

Anyway the day was a great time seeing friends & racing. The weather held out and the storms never generated any threat until I was well on my way home.

--stork

----Timmy where are you?