WORS Firecracker

It was awhile ago, but better late than never. Went up to Eau Claire for a stop of the WORS tour. Several LaCrosse peeps made the trek as well - this is the closest wors race to La Crosse at 90 minutes. I raced here last year and did ok in the cat 2 comp category. Placed pretty much mid pack in my age group and top 1/3 overall. This year I wasn't gunning too much since this is my 2nd race since the whole knee ordeal. Still didn't have good power on my top end and lacking explosiveness.

Went off without a hitch, and found a nice place to settle into. Previously I've always sat in more or less at MTB races, only to find myself slowed down by other riders once we hit the singletrack. Not that I have mad skills or anything but I'm getting quicker. But obviously I just need to bury myself to get into singletrack first or top 5, where I know my legs can land me. Anyway, first lap had a lot of stopping and slowing down at the technical sections or any uphill. That part sucked. About 2/3 through the first lap, some dude tries to pass me on an open grass section and basically rides directly into my handlebars from the side. My bars take an immediate turn to the left and the 2 of us hit the ground going about 15 mph. I landed on my right hip really hard and I was in some pain. I got the worst of it as he just got up and rode away and said something to the effect of an apology. I laid on the ground for a minute or so doing a systems check and slowly got back to my bike. everything was in working order and after several minutes climbed back on and slow pedaled back on course. I was dead last as everyone in the wave behind me had already passed. I still had 2 more laps to do and figured if I could ride, I finish the race. After awhile, I loosened up a bit and was slowly picking off riders. My back was getting really sore and I could tell afterwards I would be in the hurt locker. I managed to gain back 30 or so spots in the last 2 laps, finishing 50th out of 90 starters, 80 finishers. 8 out of 10 in the age group. Had it not been for the wreck, it would have been top 5 for sure.

The following week was rough for sure, it's currently been 2 weeks and my back muscles are still tender - but it's pretty good.

Spent the past week in Lake Tahoe and San Francisco. Did some riding, not as much as I had hoped. I will say this, I like the road riding around La Crosse, WI better than tahoe. Didn't get to MTB as my back was still acting up.

Tomorrow marks the arrival of this recent ebay purchase and new ride:

Wheelhouse Classic and CAMBA

Just over a week ago I went to Red Wing, MN for a stop on the MN MTB series. This is the first race back since I broke my leg. Last year I was racing in the Cat 2 comp category. Since the leg, I've definitely lost fitness and strength. the leg feels fine, just not that much power in it - with that in mind and taking a "just have fun" approach, I downgraded myself to the cat 2 sport category. It would be a bit slower and let me reacquaint myself to the racing - or as much racing that can happen in the sport category.

90 minute drive to the venue and I was out, registered, and warming up. the course started and finished atop a bluff in the middle of the city. There were some decent climbing sections, but not the whole 500 feet or so of the bluff. The end of the course featured a loose, rocky and very steep climb. It put you in the gutter for sure. I rode it all 3 times, and each time I passed a handful of people walking up it.

My age group was the second wave to go off. initially I was going to sit in and take it comfortably, but as we were riding the grassy lead out, instincts took over and I immediately started jumping people, especially the juniors who were in our wave. I probably settled in about 6 or 7th. We we hit the single track, a lead group of 5 had formed and were slowly riding away. During the time I was content to sit where I was, following some guy at a decent pace. After awhile, I was right on his wheel though. Had he not been there I probably would have been faster. Eventually he went down and I was alone. By this time I was coming up on riders who were in the first wave, so although I was passing people, i didn't know from where. This pretty much continued for pretty much the whole race. I would make a few passes, riders who were in front and riders that I was lapping. I think I maybe got passed by only 1 or 2 people. both of those were from the waves behind me. On the last lap, coming up the hard climb, I could see one person ahead who was walking. Because I was riding, I was gaining on him fast. I passed him at the top, completely out of breath. He was fresh from walking slow and just pedaled away from me. I finished 20 seconds behind him, he was the winner of our age group. So I came in 2nd. 2nd is good, but I only finished 16th out of 100 or so sport riders, about 5 minutes behind the overall winner. So there were some sandbaggers in there, but I'm sandbagging with a Dr.'s note.

I could probably race now and beat about half of the people who beat me as I've been getting stronger every week. I was riding the single track a little timid too and really not letting it go in the corners, too much braking. Next sunday is the firecracker in Eau Claire. I did that race last year in the comp category and did good. top 1/3 overall, middle of my age group. It was a fast race and should be fast again. Still deciding if I'll take the easy way out and race sport or get beat in the comp.

Over the 4th of July weekend, Jane and I went "up north" to camp, kayak and ride around Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin. The riding up there was amazing. It's known for some great single track and over 300 miles of trails. Albeit a lot of those are the Birkie trail, double track, dirt and gravel road, some paved road. But a lot of singletrack regardless. I was only able to do 2 days of riding, but I was pretty amped those 2 days. The first day I rode over 20 miles of the good stuff on a trail called Makwa. It was not difficult by any means, but instead an amazingly fast, roller coaster. Imagine a pump track with banked turns, gradual climbs that you can power over, uninterupted descents, an it's 12.5 miles long. Yes, 12 miles one way single track that you barely have to use your brakes on. There were so many sections that you just got "in the zone" where you're riding in a trance and your bike will literally do whatever you want it to do. You can feel your tires sliding in corners, but you're completely in control, launching off small rollers, landing exactly where you need to for the next turn. There are few trails, or even sections of trail that have these characteristics. This one was 12 miles. It was great near the end - I'm ripping the singletrack, probably better than I've ever ridden a MTB before, blowing by Fred's on the trail left and right. I'd come up behind someone and be out of sight in a matter of 10 seconds.

The next day I rode the rock lake trail. it was posted as an IMBA epic trail. it did not disappoint. I was ready for some technical stuff as the day before was easy rollin. The trail is listed as being difficult but it really wasn't too bad. It had a perfect balance of rocks that you could hop and floss your way through and not loose momentum. Like the day before I was cleaning everything and really getting lost in the trail. One steep technical descent, but nothing you couldn't do on a first pass. Unfortunately time was against me as we had to pack up and head home. So after 1 12 mile lap I had to shut her down. I was buzzing the whole way home from riding that stuff. Haven't had that happen in a long time - MTB is slowing taking over.

long ride

longest of the year for me. We were taking it pretty slow. left my garmin running at a couple of the stops so it picked up some non moving time and power. It was a good day. Jane felt great at the end of the ride. She was riding really strong in the flats. Probably the strongest she's ever been.

Sunday went MTB for a bit with a friend. Trails were pretty damp with the 2 inches of rain we received the night before. Still very ridable though. Couldn't really do that in Missouri.

Minds in Motion bike tour by stully05 at Garmin Connect - Details

Still working.

4 months since surgery. Been weight bearing for almost 2 months. Have been hitting the weights more regularly, although that leaves me unable to ride for a couple days after that - my legs are just too tired to do anything but soft pedal. Made an appearance at the slower Wednesday night ride last week. I wasn't the slowest, but i wasn't fast. Last weekend Jane's sister was in town so I didn't get much riding in. I tried to ride a bit on Sunday after Jane's triathlon that she did very well in, but my legs were crap.
Monday I rode up the bluff on the MTB and hit up some trails for a short ride. It was the second time I've been on the trails since I've been riding. This attempt went much better than the first. The first time I could barely stay on the trail. Tuesday I did the "fast ride." I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are crazy fast people here. Even-though I'm still rehabbing, the hammer was dropped and I was off the back on the climb, and then the rollers after that. The pace was being pushed by a group of guys who are all cat 3's but could really be 1's with the power they put out. One guy was the runner up in the Wisconsin RR state champs to Nathan Guerra. Nathan is a pro rider on the WORS circuit who typically finishes top 3 between Brian Matter and Tristan Schouten. So basically by 30 miles I had to bail out with another guy and soft pedal home.

This saturday I'm doing a bike tour. I've only done 1 before and I'm looking forward to this one. Primarily because I still need to get base miles in and this one has cookies and snacks along the way. 62 miles with 2 climbs - I'll be riding with Jane and a couple other friends who will ride it at a pace that will be good for base miles. and it's for charity. Probably end up with 70 miles by the end of the day saturday.

The strength is coming along and I'll be racing soon enough. If not this sunday, next sunday will be my first race back. A MTB race in Red Wing, MN.

Riding and stuff

Been walking for about 4 weeks now. the PT says I still walk with a limp although I no longer have pain. My muscles have been trained to limp now which I need to break. It's weird because I don't notice I have a limp and feel I'm walking normal. Have been doing some rides trying to build a base and build my left leg at the same time. I'll have a decent ride by myself and then ride with Jane and she'll pretty much put the hurt on me in the straights. I just don't have any power, or atleast can't hold it. I need to be more consistent with PT as I've been slacking. And the fact that Jane and I were in the Virgin Islands for the last 9 days.

I need to stay motivated to workout my leg 5 times a week. 3 weight training days and 2 balance, core, small muscle stuff.

Monday, after hardly eating anything good or in good quantity over the weekend, and traveling 18 hours home on Sunday, not getting to bed until 3am Monday, and again not eating much and mowing the lawn before we rode, we set out to ride and easy 25 miles. Our plan was to ride to minnesota, do 1 climb and soft pedal home. Well the loop that we took was longer than we thought and we made a wrong turn. Ended up riding 40 miles with 1500 feet of climbing and 20mph headwinds the 2nd half. Normally that would be nothing, but considering all the above, I was completely wasted. Barely made it home after 3 hours. Tuesday and wednesday my left hip is pretty sore - Need to work on pedaling smooth and actually using my quad and stop when it's tired. I must have been compensating somehow and trashed my hip.

Wednesday went on the "slow group" ride and had to peel off at 7 miles because I couldn't hold the pace. PT tests show my left leg is 35% deficient in strength. Next test is 2 weeks away. We'll see how much I can gain.

I'm back!

10 weeks ago I broke my leg pretty good. 1 week after I broke it I had surgery. Just had my follow up and I have the green light to start walking and more importantly getting my leg back in shape and riding the bike again. With no restrictions expect "take it easy the first few months" I plan to be racing by August. Hopefully I can hit up a MTB race in late July that is around here. I've already been checking out the race schedule and I can get a decent amount of races in before the fat tire 40.

I start PT next week and am going to hit it hard. Try to build as much muscle as I can and hopefully in 3 months be in a position to have my strength be 110% of what it was when I broke it. So essentially I've got 13 weeks to get back to race shape. Game on.

Making progress

I'm now 5 weeks post op. Got the go ahead to start bending to get to full ROM. I rode the trainer once last week and could barely get my knee around the pedal. Today it was pretty much normal on the trainer. Except I can't put too much pressure on the pedals. In addition, I got entry into the Chequamegon 40 MTB race in september. So I'm going to rehab like a madman once I can bear weight and try to get to racing shape by august and try to get a top 100 finish at the 40. Hopefully the knee responds well and the huge metal plate doesn't give me trouble.