Long Windy Ride

I got my long ride in today, a great day for flying kites or sailing. I had to be creative in finding a route that starts into the wind so I don't die on the way home. Normally from SW MPLS, I head west to Orono. Today I went to Plymouth and Maple Grove. I have to give Vicksburg Lane 1 out of 5 stars as a bike route. It's quite hostile, with 50 mph speed limits, sections of no shoulder and lots of stoplights. Back to the drawing board. If you rode today, hope you stayed out of the wind!

Opus Criterium Racing - Taking a Serious Beat Down

These are the 1/2/3 guys that know what they are doing. Note, I'm not anywhere near this group. Thanks to Jeremy D for this awesome photo.

I raced the 2nd Opus last Tuesday - just the C5 baby race. It was my 1st road race ever and it showed. I started close to the front, never taking a real pull, but definitely more exposed than necessary. On the second lap, some guy made a move and I followed. I tried to take a pull and work with him, but I must have dropped him in the process. 400 yards after the break began, I looked back to see I was alone with the group bearing down. I sat up and sat in. I hung on through the second lap, but it was such big effort to try the break, that I couldn't stay with the pack when they started going fast for the 1st of 3 sprints. At the finish of the 3rd lap, I was, like 5 seconds off the back. From there, it was an individual time trial to avoid getting lapped. Toward the end of the race, say the 8th lap or so, I started to pass some lapped guys. Then on the 9th lap, I found a guy like me who must have just popped off the back. He found some legs to follow me, and we had a fun sprint for "not last place".

It was a fun experience, but there were some moments when I thought the whole pack was going down. I found that I really do not like sitting in. I don't know how roadie sprinters can do it. Until next time ..... Seacrest out!

Opus Criterium Spectating

I can't legitimately call this a "Crit" since I never raced one. I rode over to Hopkins yesterday to check out the Tuesday Night Worlds. Coming over there I started having these inklings of putting myself in the Cat 5 race. Trouble is I was on my 'cross bike with about 20 psi in the tires (tubeless knobbies). I got over there, and got my pump out and started pumping away. In doing that, I managed to completely flat my rear tire some how. I didn't race, but I took some photos with my camera phone ...

I got home just fine after borrowing a real pump from a racer. Thanks!

Some time soon I'm going to plan things a little better and hit this race. Also newly added to the calendar is the May 8 race at Hillside in Elk River. Cheers and happy tax day! (blech)

Mountain Bike Season is Here

I hit up Theodore Wirth today. This time I had the no. 2 mountain bike. No. 1 is in the shop getting souped up. It was a short, slow ride. I was 0/2 on the uphill rock garden and so was my impromptu riding partner. With the HiFI 29, I clear that thing 10 out of 10 times. The trail is still in phenomenal shape. Tonight: Artcrank! Tomorrow: Murphy!

Go out and get it!

Wirth and a host of other local mountain bike trails are opening. I took a spin through TW this afternoon. It was really nice, but my setup was far from ideal: I had my 'cross bike plus a massive messenger bag with all my work clothes and junk. I'll take it for April 9, though!

T-Minus 7 Weeks

A Blast From the Past

I saw this on my ride down to Minnehaha Falls this morning. I worked here when I went to the U of M as a co-op student. The place has really gone to hell since I left.