Mountain Bikes Everywhere!!! Euraka Springs and tomorrows Colavita Race at Wyandotte County Lake

Just like the weather, mountain bikes are very hot right now. Sure a bunch of juiced up toothpicks are flying up mountains in france right now but back here in the good old midwest it's mountain bike time.

First up dont forget about the local MTB race tomorrow at Wyandotte Lake. 9am. My teammate Brett deserves all the credit for bringing knobby tire racing to KC this year. it's the only kc race all year so come out and support!

Flyer here.

A few pic's of the trails...

Now, on to Euraka Springs and the mtb race i did last weekend.

This is going to be short.

This is the coolest mtb race i've ever done despite the fact i had 3 flats and was one of the very last finisher. My race was more of an odyssey. Any hope i had of winning vanished almost immediately when i started too conservative. the race starts in town and you traverse a multitude of hills before you even get to the proper single track at Lake Leatherwood. I let these hills get in my head. Stupid since i'm well aware that climbing is my least worst cycling skill.

Despite my conservative start I still think my finish would have been pretty high up there... but 3 flats ruined that. On the first flat i had a tube but no pump so was left on the side of the trail with my thumb out, luckily Brett came along and gave me his pump. Thanks brother. On the second flat i had a pump but no tube, until i crossed paths with another unlucky sole. he needed a pump and had an extra tube. Convenient. Before the third flat i encountered a pump-less dude and gladly stopped to help im out. On the last flat i quickly accepted my fate and walked the last 25 minutes of the race. during which i ran into a one eyed monster, successfully negotiated the seductive song of the sirens, took a quick detour thru hades, fought off a sea monster and finally returned home to slay a rowdy band of suitors who had taken up residence in my home. 

Whew.

It should have taken me about 1.5 hours but ended up just under 3. 

What a day.

But.... i cant wait to go back. It's as awesome race.

The group checking out the downhill course. It was a full on fat tire festival with trials, short track, downhill and xc.

Tip... Eat at Bubba's BBQ.

Tip... listen to Hot Chip and have a dance party. Fohawk not recommended.

It's called Euraks Springs, AR because of the numerous natural springs.

Inside the spring, those steps are not natural, the grate is.

Plaque about this particular spring.

Race day. You know it's a good day when you can pedal to the start line.

The juices really started flowing when we saw how many peeps were there. I see a Soundpony Kit!

Oh Yeah. Juices are flowing.

The cat 1's take off.

Flat # 1.

Flat # 2 and my new friend Adam.

That's Brian Fawley 2nd from the front. Watching him pass people was eye opening.

Bretts pump helps out it's 3rd rider of the day. 

Over the dam, one of the few moments i was actually riding my bike. Notice my embarrassingly long excess stem, fork thingy.

Flat # 3. By this point almost everyone had finished and the trails were pretty much deserted so i knew i was on my own. Just as well, i didn't feel like changing any more flats. Maybe i need to get one of those goo spray cans.

I finished! My mood was better than this facial expression, but only just.

Every finisher filled out a card. Notice my finishing place. It was a big race.

Tall Unicycle

Results. I believe i was second to last in my division. 

X took 3rd in the cat 3 race, passing a chunk of the cat 2 women in the process. She wished she would have done cat 2 but i'm glad she didn't because now i can call her a SANDBAGGER! At least she won a frisbee.

The crew after a successful weekend.

Mountain Bike Race in KC this Saturday!!!

Hey Everybody!

I'm sure you already knew this but Team Colavita / Parisi Coffee is putting on a Mountain Bike race this Saturday at the Wyandotte Lake trails.

It's going to be pretty cool.

It's also going to be pretty hot which is why it's starting at 9am.

So get your butt in gear and come kick some dirt around with your friends. There will be free food and coffee, maybe beer too (but dont quote me on that). What are the trails like? The technical difficulty level is low but they are hilly and twisty so it will be a challenging day.

UFD page here.

Flyer here.

I'll be posting about this a few more times throughout the week, including some pic's of the trails (warning, the picutes arn't very good).

Mountain Bikes!!!

Arkansas Bound

We're heading down to Eureka Springs, AR to do the cross country mountain bike race on Sunday. More info here if you decide you want to make the trip. I've never done the race but it sounds really fun and unique. It starts in the heart of downtown, on pavement, very steep.

Pow!

i dont know whats wrong with my Tour of Lawrence post but i just spent forever working on it and i aint spending more time fixing it

Tour of Lawrence

Me: "Does that big breakfast come with hot cakes?"

Mcdonalds employee: "No, you have to order the big breakfast with hot cakes"

Me: "I'll take the big breakfast with hot cakes, please"

This exchange took place the morning of Saturdays circuit race. Thank god i got those Hot cakes!

The Tour of Lawrence was the weekend before last and i had probably my best weekend ever in a race on my road bike.

Saturday - Hilly circuit race.

61 starters

This was my 4th go-round of the tour of lawrence and i've gotten dropped in the circuit race every single year. It's frustrating because i'm a KU alumn and i lived in two different apartments that are right on the course so this is as close at it gets to home field advantage. Plus i'm skinny so the climbing should come easier to me than some. Still, this race always kicks my a**.

I showed up late and only warmed up for maybe 10 minutes but i had ridden pretty hard the day before and i felt confident and calm. Before we left KC i was in a bad mood (all this packing and prepairing for bike races really takes away from the fun of riding your bike) but once we arrived in Lawrence my mood improved significantly.

I'm trying to think of the standout moments of the race. Connor from Bike America crashed on the fast left hander on the first lap. He crashed at last weeks Tour of KC as well. All this after winning sunday at Tulsa Tough.

There was a descent amount of spectators at the top of the final climb so it was fun riding thru there and getting sprayed with water. I learned i'm not very good at tossing bottles because i lost both of them and one was an insulated camel back bottle. Lesson learned. I think that was the first time i've ever tossed a bottle in a race.

We did 5 laps and on the third i was a little far back going up the final climb. Guys in front of me were getting dropped so i had to force my way thru. There was no way i was going to lose my momentum by going around them so i shouted a heads up and elbowed my way between them. It was worth it. On the 4th lap there was one tiny attack which i started to follow but then i flicked the elbow and made a few others follow before i jumped in behind them. I was feeling a little over extended at that point and didn't want to risk going to deep. That blow up at the quad cities crit in Iowa made me gun shy. Besides that little attack i think the extreme heat scared everyone because the pace never seemed too fast.

It was really hot this weekend. A quick word on staying hydrated... I've become awesome at it. The key, drink a lot of fluids. coconut water is good, Gatorade is cheaper.

anyway...

With 1 lap to go i started to think about placement for the finish. I wanted to be in good position at the bottom of the last climb so i intended to move up around the feed zone. Apparently everyone else had the same idea and i was maybe 20th as we approached the bottom of the final hill. Not very good.

The road tilted upward and everyone went hard, i passed a few guys but it's kind of a blur. I do know that once we crested the hill and rode the final 100 yards to the finish i dug as deep as i have all year... by the time i crossed the finish line i was 12th. or 13th according to the updated results. or tied for 15th according to the updated updated results.

Either way it was far and away my best race on this course and one of my best races ever. Im stronger than this point last year. And maybe stronger than ever before, at least on my road bike.

Holla!

Legit finish lines are always nice.

Mustache and friends.

X sat out the Tour of Lawrence due to injury but did what she could to help her teammates. The Trek Midwest Womens team had a great weekend. They won so many races that i lost track. They have a good vibe. Joe Fashion looks like a kingpin here.

You know the saying 'you can never have enough ice'? It's true. And you need a lot of coolers for that.

Kip and his InaTub entourage really hooked it up and provided free food for anyone who needed it. I had 3 tacos. Then some nachos. then 3 more tacos. Heaven. 

The fast race, early on, cresting the final hill of the circuit. 

It was really hot today and while i felt great during the race i felt like s*it after. Finally, after sitting outside for  a few hours watching races, i had to retreat into a nearby school building to cool of. Cold water on the arteries is nice.

It felt like waiting to see a teacher during office hours, only with a mustache.

This is Malcom. The world needs more people like this. Seriously.

Tilford and the always aggressive Nick Coil in an early break.

Brad Huff seems to be riding really well right now but not as well as the guy to his left, that guy won. We didn't stay for the end. It was waaay to hot and my body was not handling it very well.

But i was still healthy enough for beer at Free State. I love Lawrence.

Sunday - fast figure 8 crit.

79 starters.

Truth be told it's late right now and i'm kind of drunk and i've got the All Star game playing on dvr in the other room... so i'm going to keep this short.

I had a blast during this race and mostly because i felt good. I had some trouble clipping in so during the first few laps i was staring at a ton of dudes in front of me. I rode smart and was right in the think of it with one to go. I specifically remember a moment on the last lap where everyone was really gunning it on the back side of the course. It was a do or die moment as everyone made their moves for good position. I had plenty of strength and had no problem accelerating to hold my position. As it was happening i remember thinking "this is awesome", it's the end of a long race and i've got plenty of juice left. Still, my position was just so so and i finished 15th. But... thats the last money spot! I finished in the money in both races.... before this weekend i'd never finished in the money in a road bike race.

Holla!

Peace out.

I cant say it enough, i love Lawrence.

No Lawrence visit is complete without a stop at the Bougeois Pig. Joe Fashion knows this.

You ever put ice in your shorts on a hot day, try it.

Remember Ben, he broke his collarbone at Tour of KC but he came down to watch. 

Yep.

Cat 3 race. I see quiet Brian.

Recognize the tile? This photo is totally staged.

Cat 3 post race. 

Ryan took 3rd cat 3 KS State crit. I hope he races open in cross so i can show him how it's done, or have him kick my a**. Either way.

Fast race in action. I took a lot of photos during this race.

Hometown boy Joe Schmaltz bridges up to the break. SC blog favorite Jay Blakenship sighting!

The break, pretty big.

I had a nice buzz going and then i found the Free State tent. It was a good day.

Eventually there were two off the front. Local guy Brian Jensen and Stefan Rothe. I was loving the breakaway.

Brian and Stefan were a pair to be taken seriously. 

The breakaway. 

Kusiak doing work. He rode great today. 

At some point this Mercy rider bridged up to the break. That seemed pretty impressive to me. Two became three and they had a real chance to go all the way. 

Team Tradewind doing their best to slow the field and give their teamate Brian a better chance of winning.

The gap as the break approaches 1 lap to go. This race was SO exciting.

The beginning of the final sprint w/ Sound pony in the early lead. As you can see the break was caught on the last lap. Bummer.

Brad Huff wins! I gave him a very loud and very enthusiastic drunken yell as he came by me. It was awesome. Do you see Kusiak?

Kusiak after an outstanding 22nd place finish. 

K10 from Lawrence to KC... The culmination of a long weekend.