Always Impressed !

Trans Iowa #7 done for 18 riders and I can only sit a wonder if only ! I pulled the plug on the training way back in March around my 50th b-day and wish I would have talked to a few more people about getting motivated.I was on target until the weather started to get better which should have motivated me more but it did the opposite,I keep thinking about the things I need to do around home.Even after some good training on the bike with Nick with 7 hr rides , the next few days I didn't want to get back on the bike,I hated the thought that a three hour ride is a waste.By the end of March I wanted and could have done my plan of 10 to 12 hr rides back to back which would have told me if I had the legs for TIv7,crazy to think you need that kind of training but I do know my own body and what it needs.

Why does the suffering on a bike appeal to some of us? Don't know but I have to have a goal when I train and it has to be possible to get,the Trans Iowa is possible for some not all and I need to let this race go or make it my goal again.

After the way we suffered at TIV6 but for only 5 hrs I was pissed about the time limits and the way I blew 5 months of training in Illinois weather,snow,cold and rain to have it all end because of the weather and I don't have the ability red line my heart rate for 50 miles,it's not the way to start a 330 mile race cramping 4hrs into it.I can race for 24 hr solo and do damm well,I have some abilities,that's the reason I went to endurance racing !

To read others Blogs and now see that they too had a rough time mentally just to train but they some how got through it and made it to the start of the race.It just shows how tough they are and they know the rewards of just toeing the line...I should have at least done that.

If I try to get back in to race TIV8 I think it will take a wish list for me and I know it's being selfish but all the racers have a little some thing they would change.

1- late June or July race
2- two check points but time limits are longer if any...if a guy is so far back there is no possible way he could make the finish in time who cares,he trained his/her ass off and deserves a shot at finishing for his own pride.
3- More supply store stops on route if in July ...no need to kill a guy from thirst

That's all I'm looking for not much ! With all this said and I think I'm done pouting...Mark and DP work their ass off for this race and it sure has come a long way from Jeff and Mark from TIV1.Congrats on having a successful race... What they decide to do is what we all have to do if we want to try and be part of a race that has left so many victims along the back roads of Iowa and made us admire those that have finished.

Caught in the rain

I was all set for a 3 hr ride and headed out on the road bike but the weather wasn't going to be in my favor for long.I planned on some intervals and was an hour into my ride when the rain was coming my way,it didn't look to bad until i seen lightning strikes and heard some thunder!

My ride turned into a time trail ride back to the house and finished up with a 3 mile run on the tredmill.

Ride planned for Saturday and Sunday

See ya !

ride,ride

Stopped by Bushwhackers to grab some Hammer products,Perpetuem and Gel and check out how the store is doing with their reset.Bikes and Mr. Woo and Mr. Al are coming up staires while lawn furniture is going down.

I had some riding partners Sunday with Nick,Bob and Jon came out for some sloppy gravel...Nick and I got in 3-1/2 hrs.I needed a recovery day on Monday after 3 days in the saddle but back on Tuesday for 2 hrs 31 miles followed by today with 4 ..hrs and 52 miles.

I hope for a quick ride or run tomorrow...It's March weather can put the hurt on yeah fast.

spin inside !

Yesterday I got in almost 3 hrs on the road,a good ride with some hills...Today spin inside watching the 500 race...1-1/2 high intensity intervals.

Monday rest day then back at it Tuesday and Wednesday !

30 miles today

Bob G came over and we got in a quick 30 miles,weather has been nice well, lets say temps have been good mid 50's bit windy...cold coming back next week.

I hope to get in some good miles tomorrow and Sunday before the rain hits.


See ya !

Trying to get the miles

Getting the miles under your belt in February can be tough but the weather is getting better and I'm running out of time.My bike choice for TIV7 is still up in the air but I decided to get the rig set up for now,I have a cross frame but don't want to spend the money getting it set up.

Run today and spin intervals for 1 hr...ride outside I hope tomorrow !

Back in the dungeon

Iv'e been back down in the Dungeon for a few weeks hitting the cyclo core workouts and doing some running...Midz came over Wednesday for our first workout of the winter,he has some big goals to hit with some long endurance runs and I hope to keep him on top of his game.I hope to keep running this winter so I can help him with the 50 mile race this April,I'll get up a full sked. of my races for 2011 soon !

Road bike

Tuesday and today's miles were on the road bike WOW ! I forgot how light and fast I can be with a 19 pd bike.Midz joined me today for a quick 27 miles that's 5 rides in 5 days with 28 more to hit my goal of riding every day in March.

Thursday could be tough but I think I'll do a 12 mile time trail and then a easy ride on Friday to set myself up for some long hours in the saddle Saturday and Sunday.


See ya

Sunday ride on the Rig

I woke up Sunday morning wanting to get some good mileage on the Rig but I wanted the temps to get up a little higher before I set out on my ride.I took off with a goal of 2 to 3 hrs of ride time depending on how I felt and how late it was getting but I hit 2-3/4 hrs and 42 miles so all was good.

The Rig felt great I love the gearing on it,it's perfect for Trans Iowa and the drop bars make it feel great with no pressure on the back.I have the big MTB tires on it right now but I will go with some cross tires soon.

Midz came over for a quick 25 miles tonight...cold and windy !

I'll hit it again in the morning maybe with road bike !

Day one 25 miles !

New Rig made it home

The Gary Fisher Rig is a single speed bike that I have wanted for some time but I also need a bike for the TIV6 race.I didn't want to buy two bikes or tell Cindy I want two more bikes,but I knew I could get the Rig and make it my special TIV6 bike then cross it back over to a single speed. I had Bob Woo from Bushwhackers go to work on it for me,I knew he could make any adjustments to make it work.

I made it into a 2x9 with drop bars so I would be more comfortable on the gravel roads,this should help keep me low and faster which is my main goal for the TIV6 race.I'll get a few rides in with these huge tires then switch out to some cross tires,maybe sooner than later.

I got in a good 60 miles in last Sunday in some pretty shitty weather that made it a good suffer fest 4-3/4 hrs by the time I made it home.

I hope for some good back to back mileage days soon and I'm setting a goal of riding every day in March or aleast a run on days I can't ride.

Thanks to Buchwhackers on helping me get the Rig !

Try to some miles

I hit the Rock Island Trail Sunday for some much needed saddle time,I knew the snow would slow me down a little but I didn't count on it taking a toll on my legs.I had planned a 2 hour ride to the 20 mile mark and then 2 hours back but I didn't stop when I should have to refuel and I payed for it at with about 9 miles to go...The snow was just a couple inches deep but was like going through sand and the legs were getting a hell of a workout.When I got to Dunlap with 5 to go I hit the quick mart for a cherry pie and coffee a good 500 calories to get me back to the truck

The snow between the 14 and 16 mile mark had driffs to big to ride through so I did some hike a bike,I think the worse was where hikers had walked,their foot prints left a hole and made the trail almost unrideable at times...It need more hikers to pack the trail down.With 6 to 8 more inches of snow this morning that was the last RIT ride for a while.


Ice fishing on Saturday fun time !


beaver dam flooding my properyI'll

I'll be looking for this guy in April

Back on the spinner for the day !

See ya !

a little to cold

I did get in a ride at Farmdale Friday a good 1-1/2 hrs but it was a slow ride and not much of a workout,Saturday I hit the spinner for my 1 hr race pace ride and today I ran 35 min. and did a recovery ride for 45 min.

I still need some good long RIT rides,lets hope the weather warms just a little bit more for the 4-6 hour rides I need to get in.


See ya !

Hey Wind ! Bite me !

The NRS with some fenders
Temps were in the 40s over the weekend and I was planning on some good road miles but the wind and rain came in hard and fast so I spent my time down in the dungeon.

I need to get consistence om my training so this week I decided to ride every day or run if I can't get the ride in,spinning is the plan with some outside riding weather permitting and getting some core workouts.Spin today with the race dvd at 80-90% of heart rate for a hour...I'm spent !

Midz might be able to make it for a Wednesday morning spin ! WELCOME TO THE DUNGEON !


see ya !

Not going to spin for hours

Getting ready for Trans Iowa and I'm not going to spend that much time on the spinner,unless weather dumps on me later next month.I'm running and keeping my spinning to 45min. to 1-1/2 hours,the workouts have been structured and at high leval of intensity.The goal is to raise my LT so I can withstand the long rides at a high rate of speed.I don't want to train slow and steady,then you become slow and steady.

The trainer dvd that midz and I have done in the past workouts down in the dungeon is all I need,it still makes me work hard and then I do my own version of intervals on other days.Today was a 50 min. run a super set of close grip pulldowns,pushups,sissy squats 5 sets and 10 min. on the speedbag.

Can I get a century in before the end of January ? I'm going to try! maybe Rock Island Trail maybe road.

I need to pay off the Rig and it ready for some training rides...Brad Newman will be joining me at Trans Iowa,he was e-mailed by Mark on Friday that he was in.


See Ya !

Midz can you ride or spin on Wednesday mornings ?

X-mas party 2009

PAMBA had their X-mas party last night and as always a good time was had by all,I drank my red bull and vodka and didn't get out of control...feel pretty good this morning.I need to cut some more wood this morning then jump on the spinner while watching football.







See ya !

A long time ago !

Cindy and I have hit that 25 year mark on our marrige today ! We met in June of "84 and November 17th of "84 we were married...Yeah in 5 -1/2 months we knew we were ment for each other so why wait !

I'm off this morning and she is working so I'll take her to lunch today so we can spend some time together.

Happy Anniversary Honey !


This what I'm getting into !

My winter has changed because I'm on the roster for TIV#6 I hope the weather is good so I can get in as many miles outside that I can,if not it's going to be a lot of time sitting on the spinner down in the dungeon ! I need some more movies !

Mohica 100 is going to be June 5th next year so it works good with the I-74 series

TIV#6

I sent off my entry into the Trans Iowa race yesterday,I should hear back Monday or Tuesday that I'm im.My winter will be spent riding as much as I can outside and a lot of spin time in the dungeon.Race is set for late April so lets hope fpr a good March so I can get the long miles in outside to see how my training has gone.

I'll post back up when I hear when I'm in !


see ya !

Bike Patrol

Friday night a local running club invited PAMBA's bike patrol to come out to the oldest cemetery in Peoria to watch over the runner's at a Spooky Marathon race.The race started at 6:00pm to midnight and had close to 200 people run a 5 K and 25 run the whole marathon.



It had been raining for two days but it finally had stopped for the race.We set up a fire pit and paired up the patrol riders to keep a eye on the 6 mile course.

It was a lttle smoky from the pit but kept us warm.

Morgan made some chili that helped keep us warm and fueled for the riding.

The run had some steep climbs and long I think a rode around 24 mile by time we were done.We only had one sprained ankle out of the whole night so it was a good night of patroling for us.

Carrie got a magic wand for her efforts !




Hope to get some more riding out side before winter sets in,I don't want to get in the gym to soon but look foeward to some dungen workouts with Midz.

See ya !

End of the season

Tough end to my race season with a DNF at the Matthieson race last weekend,I went way to hard for the first 2 miles that was out in the open prairie and suffered for it once I got in the woods.I was hoping the legs would come back but they said "you blew it" and once I got in my first lap I knew I wouldn't make it for another 2 laps.

getting ready to race with Midz,Kelsi,Steph and Zack looking on.

getting warmed up riding with Tony amd Stauby

racing down a hill right before the creek

Tony with a flat tire carrying his bike thru the rock section

Mike Staub making it up the monster climb for the last time.


Kelsi posing on the Vermillion river at Matthieson State Park.

The place will be part of the I-74 series next year, I can't wait to get back up here and redeme myself for the DNF.

I'm looking at next years season and I need to decide if I want to shoot for Trans Iowa #6. I need to make up my mind before Thanksgiving to make the roster.If I do that means I need to start training at the start of December and really get going in January on the trainer.

Mohican 100 is a must do race and the Wems series.I should be able to do the I-74 XC series and a 24 hr,I'll be hitting the road endurance races also.

I have taken about 4 weeks off from any real training or hard riding I guess thats why I had such a bad race last weekend so after this weekend I'm hitting the gym and get back to eating good.

By the way if you see a wallet on the highway up around Matthieson State Park it's mine ! THAT SUCKS !

See Ya !

Still here ! 7 oaks race

Pic from the top of the ski hill at Seven Oaks September 5&6 24 hr race I did with Tony,Brad and Andy,we took 2nd place with a hard fight with Team Rasmussen from Iowa.


Me coming in from my second lap,going hard trying to make up some time.


Tony cooling down from another fast lap


Andy grabing his bike for another lap with Brad in the back ground coming in from his lap



Brad all done with his last lap of the 24 hr race and pulling a nose wheelly !


Me enjoying a hot cup of coffee while the fog rolls in at 3 or 4 am waiting for Andy to come in from his lap


Race is over and were hanging out relaxing waiting for the awards


Team PAMBA Brad,ME,Tony and Andy


I know Tony and Brad had to drive the 4-1/2 ride back to Peoria and Andy stayed in Des Moines but I had Cindy driving me back and I just had to close my eyes !


Fun race with Bob and Peggy making the ride over to watch and help support,Cindy and Kelsi as always was there for support and cherring us on ringing the cowbell,Thanks guys!