WTF?

I got an email from the race director of the North Shore Winter Ultra stating the event has been canceled. Gee, thanks for the heads up.
I actually don't blame him too much. There were only about 30 registered athletes and Duluth wanted $800 for insurance. He has some other reasons too. There appears to be an impromptu ride still happening but not too sure if I will do that or not.
The search continues.

Later...time to go get the H1N1 shot.

T Minus 5 Days...

The North Shore Winter Ultra looms on the horizon! Wow, what a cheesy ass line that was. Anyway, I feel pretty ready. God knows I have enough built up calories from the past few days of cookie binging...no self control. I feel like a blob.

The forecast in Duluth for Saturday is a high of 7. I am actually pretty happy with that. I don't want to sweat too much. The start will most likely be in the negative numbers so I hope there isn't too much waiting around outside before the start.

I plan on taking it somewhat easy this week. With all the new snow however, I will need to get out and ski a few times! I love snow.

Even with all this great, new snow I am already looking forward to biking again and what events/racing I want to do. Let's go!

Out.

Viva la Norte

Ride: Pugsley
Companion: iPod
Time: 3 hours

I got a call last night about some recon work to make some winter riding more enjoyable. I had planned to go skiing but opted for the bike instead. With the looming storm I figured skiing would be better soon and the bike trails in and around ski trails would be shut down for the season. Overall the riding was really fun. It's still slow but I don't think that will ever change.

I am so excited for the coming snow...usually that means it will miss us. I hope not and I hope to get out enjoy it ASAP.
Gotta go to work.

Out.

Nature Calls.

Winter Solstice...early.

Last night, at very last minute, we celebrated the start of winter at the real red house that rocks...the Anderson's. Every year they have a solstice party to welcome the season and to appease the gods (or Gods) for more snow. It worked a bit, we got about an inch last night. Part of the event is to have a mini ski race to help decide who sits where, if at all, at the head table. Here are some shots.
Mr. Imholte gets the award for biking the furthest to the party. He and Mr. Anderson also had an impromptu jam season!

For some reason the ski race got into the "outfits" more than any other year. The start of the race is slamming a beer. The mean age of the party attendees is getting up there, so the beer slamming is starting to lack.

Mr. Stone and his blinky hat and shimmer shirt.

Some of us had issues with the jump.

We wear short shorts.

Damn...Mr. Sexy.

Shit, I look pro.

My beer was swapped out with a root beer. That stuff is hard to chug. I had a burp with chunks around the first corner. It didn't slow me down, helping secure a spot at the head table.

Our new Christmas Card.

Are those real?

I believe a great time was had by all. One attendee took it a bit too personal about not making the head table, but that's the way the ball rolls...or maybe too much booze.

I had planned on skiing or biking this morning, before work, but getting to bed at 3 am kind of put a monkey wrench into that plan. I opted for more sleep. I have been pretty tired lately. Not wanting to push myself to sickness I rolled back over and slept.

Maybe I'll ski tonight on our new inch of powder.

Later.

On the Up.

Ride: rollers
Companion: iPod and a pile of kid's xmess presents.
Time: 1 hour
Gym: chest and arms...1 hour.

Ahh, what a difference a day makes in ones attitude...well that and having Bravo for dinner.

Party tonight, time to crack out the "good" Rock Star.

Later.

Don't Push Me...I May Blow.

So yeah, today I am currently a crabby ass. Not too sure why, maybe I'm just tired. I did not want to deal with the kids this morning, but if not me then who? It seems that time is always short...I hate that. I also hate when life is planned out so far into the future. I could tell you what I am going to be doing and when for the rest of the winter. Pretty freaking exciting. Maybe I need to trip or something. But then that involves time off work, which we are already short on help, and money...which I tend to be short on a lot of the time.
Ugh.

Ride: none, gym instead...not enough time.
Companion: iPod and the usual overweight suspects.
Time: 35 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes StairMaster.

Hmm...that sucked.

To a better weekend.

Heat Wave

Ride: Pugsley...Sand Prairie WMA, farmer fields, Baltos, then home.
Companion: iPod and some deer.
Time: a bit over 2 hours.

Going out this morning to start Jen's car I noticed it was not as biting out as it has been. Turns out it was about 8 degrees and that felt warm! I decided to head out for a little bike ride on the Pugsley. On my way over to SPWMA I cut through the bottom of Riverside. I was struggling to move, I thought this ride would be over soon. Once there the going was not too bad. Slow but consistent. Through the farm fields I had to walk some through drifted sections, but again...not too bad. 2 hours went by pretty quick.

Later.

Round and Round.

Ride: none, went skiing for 2 hours. 12 laps at Riverside and 4 laps at the North Loop.
Companion: iPod
Time: 2 hours
Cleaning: vacuum and dishes.

The first ski of the season is in the books. I started out at Riverside. The Hamster wheel has been extended some. I mustered out 12 laps for about an hour. Heard the North Loop was ok so I headed over there. It wasn't too bad but there are a lot of leaves and some soft spots. More snow would be nice.

I have the day off from work so I hope to clean the house before the kids come home and destroy it again.

I have some pretty fun plans for some rides/races this spring/summer. I can't wait!

Later.

Chev Chelios

Ride: trainer, 2 hours.
Companion: movie, Crank 2
Review: I like mindless, action based movies on the trainer. But this was a bit over the top. Nonetheless, it passed the time. Must have a phenomenal suspension of disbelief!
Gym: back, shoulders, abs, sauna.

I'm still not dreading the trainer! I hope to get out skiing this week to avoid boredom meltdown. I may even travel to Elm Creek, or not, not sure yet.

It's official, I am doing the 48 miles and not the 88 mile portion of the North Shore Winter Ultra. I am comfortable/happy with the decision.

Another Sunday Ride.

Bike: Pugsley
Companion: Lance
Time: 2 hours and 30 some minutes
Temp: 5 degrees, North wind

Overall not a bad ride. I didn't get cold anywhere! I am slowly figuring what works and doesn't work for me. The snow is like sugar...making the going pretty slow. Even with the Pugsley I was slipping all over the place. We hit up the North Loop and the Plum Creek trails. Good time.

I am pretty sure I have decided to drop down to the 48 mile event from the 88 mile event this coming January. I have a lot of excuses that make sense to me, so I guess that is all that matters. I will use this as a "test" of sorts to figure more things out and learn what to expect. Who knows, maybe I will throw my hat in next year for the Arrowhead 135, $200 entry fee and all.

Later.

Some Quality Basement Time.

I wasn't feeling the outside riding this morning so I popped in 24 Hour Solo and spun the trainer. I have not seen this movie from beginning to end or with sound...what a great trainer movie.
Ride time: 1 hour 40 minutes...
and a lot of sweat. I bet I could ring my chamois out. Yummy!

Before and After.

Woke up to -7 with a colder windchill. Brian called and backed out of the ride. I don't blame him. He has to bike across town to meet at the North Loop, while I have a couple minute bike ride. I decided to still go by myself and the good 'ol ipod. Once on the trail I had to let more air out of the tires to maintain traction. I must have let too much out of the rear. It kept getting harder and harder to move...then I realized I had a flat, ugh. I pushed on through and rode it home as well. Man that is a lot of work. I probably averaged 4-5mph. Overall I was dressed just fine for the temp. Never got cold. I was sweating too much. I didn't dress too differently form previous days but I ended up having to work much harder. Lesson learned.

Before:


After:

Till next time.

Game On.

So it's cold out. We also got some snow. I wish we would have got more but it's a start. I don't think it's going to melt anytime soon. I had thought about heading out for a ride tonight but decided an hour on the rollers in the basement would be better. I have not been on rollers for several years. No crashes! I actually had a pretty good time. I know the boredom of indoor riding will soon set in. By then hopefully we will have more snow so I can ski. Here's a pic of me after my first indoor training session!

I also planned on riding inside since Brian and I decided to give tomorrow morning a whirl outside. It will be a good trial run for my event up in Duluth. Currently it's -1 with a windchill of -21. Tomorrow when we plan to ride it will be -6 with a windchill of -23...sweet. Bring it.

Very late but here are some pictures of my Surly Pugsley.

Here is my attempt at keeping my hand warm. A little bit of insulation.

I also have a set of Moose Mitts, or pogies.

North Loop 8am.

Later.

Oh yeah, Bravo Burritos...best burritos ever, is on facebook and has a blog site. They also take credit cards and deliver...not sure how I feel about Bravo's coming into the technology age.

Not Yet.

I couldn't bring myself to go skiing on the Hamster Wheel this morning. I planned on it, even got my skis all waxed up and ready to go. But the idea of going round and round on a 3/4K loop held me back.
Instead I mounted the Pugsley, again, and did a couple hours followed by a gym session.
I have cut back on weight at the gym. I do like lifting but enough already. Last week I was lifting and my chest bones snapped or something. Whatever it was it hurt and things are still tender.
Sucks getting old.

Later...hopefully with more snow.

New Gig or Race Van...either way!

My scouts down south found this van for me...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested.

Roll Out.

Finished 4 hours on the Pugsley this morning. Went out early when it was about 7 degrees out, according to weather.com, around 16 degrees when I finished. Didn't get too cold, so that's good. But I sure was cold when I stopped. I have to dress a bit less warm on top to stop the sweating. I don't notice it while riding but the layers were wet when I took them off. The mileage was about 40. The race I am training for is 88, not quite half, so being on a snowmobile I hope to be able to average 8 mph...putting me at 11 hours. That's a long ass time in the saddle when it's cold! I think a big part of it will be mental, but having other riders around will be helpful. Something about others suffering lessons mine.
I was able to stay pretty close to home while riding the 4 hours!
The route:
North Loop
Sand Prairie Wilderness Area. Found some more trails/roads from the last time so it has more than I thought. It's slow going but that's fine.
Back part of Balto's Dog Loop.
Talahi trails.
Riverside and man made snow.
Beaver Island trails.
Old train bed out to McStop.
STC landfill.
River Bluff Trails.
Plum Creek.
Beaver Island Trails.
Riverside and man made snow...again.
Home.
I ate a lot when I got home. Took a shower and now am at my parent's house, since Jen lives on the computer doing school work. Helping my dad pound posts in the ground. It was my idea to wait...nothing like pounding into frozen ground.
Then back home to clean/organize the garage...blah.

Later.

Got It.

Well after freaking out last time I road with how cold my hands and feet got, I decided to take some measures to not have that happen again. I cut some foam grips up and taped them to my existing grips for more insulation. I then used handle bar tape on the brake levers. I found some really thick, and big socks. I used chemical warmers in the moose mitts and some heated foot beds. I was toasty if not too warm. It was 15 degrees when we started so I am happy with being a bit too warm. We (Brian, Mike, and I) road for about 3 hours. I am back to being excited for my looming race/event.
Brian and I checked out the snow making progress at Riverside. Sounds like it is going faster than years past (it's colder!) so they may be done tonight! That means my shift for manning the gun is out. Maybe I will sneak over today to offer my help. We road up the sledding hill on the snow bikes. I need to let more air out of the tires but feel really comfortable on the Pugsley.
Today the family and I are headed over to Tommy T's to cut our own Christmas Tree...I actually don't mind doing it, kind of fun.

Later.

High Tech Lighting!

We get all kinds of bikes into the shop with some creative and not so creative "things" latched to them. This is a first for me...a Colman lantern duct taped to the handle bars. Division Street Lighthouse!

Countdown is On.

Only 29 days left till the North Shore Winter Ultra. Shit this is coming up fast! I have started to pile up some time on the bike, however.

Monday was the mtb night group ride. I put some time in before and we went longer so I got 3.5 hours in.

Wednesday night I went out again. I did some more exploring. This time I crossed Hwy 10 and road around the Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area. I thought is was pretty cool, but short . It's 700 acres but not too much for trails. Maybe I missed some. I will go back with the kids and Zoe to do some hiking and snowshoeing. Ventured on to some more farm field access roads and some freshly plowed fields. I thought this might simulate snow. If that is what the winter ultra will be like, I'm out.

This morning I hoped to get a couple hours in again. The ground was covered with a dusting of snow and the temps were cold but not crazy. I was excited. I made it a tad over an hour. My damn hands were so freaking cold. This really psyched me out for my upcoming event. When I got home and the hands started to warm up I got what Charlie calls the "screaming barfies"...damn.
I just finished the book, "Swim to Antarctica" by Lynne Cox. She does a lot of open water swimming, but at great distances and cold. I kept thinking during my ride if she can swim in 32 degree water with nothing on but a swim suit I can bike in 20 degree weather. My hands won out and I ventured home. I had my Moose Mitts on (poggies) with long finger gloves. I will use warmer gloves next time. The Moose Mitts have a spot for chemical heat packs too...but it was only 20 degrees, not -10! Last night I had the same thing on with an outside temp of about 28 and I was hot. Lesson learned.
Only 29 more days to figure this all out.

Later.

Oh yeah, Wax of the Day is back on too...for awhile anyway.