WORS #2 Rhinelander Crystal Lake Classic

The nerves were pretty high for this race after DNFing at the first WORS race and really wanted to redeem myself. Without getting a call up I ended up starting 3rd row back. I figured that wouldn't be to much of a problem because of the long gravel lead out. I managed to get my self into a top 10 position going into the first single track and stuck there.

Lap one was a super dry, making the corners unpredictable so I was a little hesitant. but hung in position.It was Tyler Gauthier, Kevin McConnell, teammate Ben Koenig and I. We kept a consistent pace that I felt that I could hold the whole race.

Then sprinkles that started in lap 2 turned into a downpour. We were nearing the end of the lap and the thunder was getting loud. I attacked, thinking the race might get called early and I would have 6th place wrapped up. Nobody waved me to the finish so I sat up and waited to regroup and work off them again.

The conditions changed going into the third lap and I laid it down in a corner. Luckily it wasn't bad and nothing happened so I got up and bridged back up to the group. About half way through, I could see that Ben was slowing up a bit, I was hoping that we would stick the race out together because its cool to have a teammate to work with, but he needed to race his race and held it out for an 8th place finish.

I think it was the end of lap 3 that Mike Phillps and Joseph Maloney popped of the front group and when we got to them we ramped it up so they couldn't grab onto our train. We managed to hold them off but it still didn't hit me that there was only a group of 3 ahead. I have never been this close to the front in a WORS race.

Nearing the end of the 4th and final lap Kevin rolled his tire and went down. He had to get out the co2 to repair it. Then it was down to 2. Not to long after this the rain hit hard again and Tyler started ramping it up. He must of had mud tires on because I couldn't hang. I decided to ride conservative and keep it shiny side up because I new that Kevin wouldn't be able to catch back up after is flat. I kept it there and got the last step on the podium! 5th place! My best finish ever.

Post Race Interview Here
Cycling News Write up Here

Photo courtesy of Robert Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Extreme Photography

Living The Dream

Since I haven't blogged in a long time (I was starting to think it was a lost art with Facebook and Twitter being on the forefront of communication) I will give you an update on my life.

Someone asked me about 6 months ago if I was living the dream yet... I said no. Now I can actually say that I am. In a brief summary of what has happened is since then I quit my day job and started my own company doing freelance graphic design and everything has been going great. By doing this it has given me the opportunity to make my own hours that allows me to ride my bike during the day.

I applied for my PRO license this winter and to my surprise I got it! This gave me big motivation to train hard over the winter months of Wisconsin on my Pugsley or my indoor trainer. I got out for a few Fat Bike races and had a blast doing it.

This brings me to the MTB season. In years past I hardly ever rode single track because all of the trails were just to far away and I didn't have time with work and the my freelancing at the same time to make it anywhere to ride. This year has been different, I am traveling more just to work on my technical skills and am having a blast on my bike.

WORS #1 - I had a lot of anticipation to see where I fit in with everyone else's fitness at this race but only got to ride for about 5 mins because I broke my chain right away and had to walk back. I did learn something in this race, always be prepared for mechanicals. I will always have a multi-tool, quick link and a CO2 incase of a flat.

My second and most recent race of the year was the Rasta Rally held in Rhinelander Wisconsin. If I have a home course, this would be it. The course is a 24 mile, 2 lap race with a lot of really cool technical single track with some rocky descents and steep climbs. The start is a few miles of open gravel roads. I ended up being up front I pulled the field to the first climb of the race where Chris Periso climbed by me and shot into the first section of single track. I was sitting in 3rd at this point. Chris lead for a few more sections of single track but the pulled over to let us lead. Im not sure what the guys name was that was in 2nd place but he started to hammer and we got a small gap on the group. I decided that I would take a pull so at the next opening I got up front and we headed into some more single track. I looked back an no one was there.... wow, I was pretty surprised that I had gapped him and had this lead so early in the race. Now I just had to keep it. I rode the rest of the race slightly gaining time on the rest of the field. About half way through the last lap I noticed that my tire was really low. It was rolling over in the corners if I went into them to fast. My fingers were crossed that it would just hold up till the finish line. I had to take it a little easier but I managed to hold the lead and got the Win!