Boneshakerbike

Category: Blog Posts

  • Snowing In Missoula

    Hello from Break Espresso in downtown Missoula. I am going to post a quickie blog since I wasted most of the morning doing up pictures from Thanksgiving. More on that later when I get more time. Not much going on besides snow and a couple links to point out. Doug Burner has posted a new blog and the Lodge has been given a front page link spot at the Team ROAR web site .

    The Grizzly game is today so I must rush off to do some chores (laundry, groceries, ski stuff shopping) before kick off. Now that I look down at my computers clock I better get going.

    The cycling season is officially gone with all our new snow and I will be pulling out my skis for a run to Lolo Pass tomorrow. It is all white from here on out.

    I hope every ones Thanksgiving was great and you were able to pound some calories.

  • Happy Thanksgiving

    Happy Thanksgiving

    Good early morning and happy Thanksgiving. I am preparing for my trip to Columbia falls this morning a little earlier than I planned. I have been up early looking back at blogs and planning my trip . Why did I get up so early?

    It all started with a very stressful week at work (only 3 days). I do not know how I am going back for a full week next week. that is why I plan to get home by Friday evening or maybe Saturday morning. i need to get some resumes in order and start the job hunt once again. Why can’t I find a job that doesn’t mentally screw me or bend me over the money barrel. Missoula Montana is not a job mecca!

    So like i said it all started with a stressful job and that is why after work last night I stared at the wall for 4 hours. I was able to finally get out for a ride on my cross bike. I went to bed thinking I would get up after a good nights rest.

    I can not tell yet if i had a good nights rest because I have been up since 3 AM. I woke up from a dream and could not get back to sleep. All I can think about is how much preparing I have to do to travel. So finally I got up and started this blog.

    Going to Columbia Falls

    I just got done washing Marcy and i am about to jump in the shower. I am charging up the camera battery because I have a plan for my trip.

    I want to take a picture in every small town on the way. I will be leaving with in the hour and plan to make a day of it (OK … half day aunt Wanda … I’ll be there for dinner).

    I plan to take an alternative route around by Conden and Sealy Lake. I want to miss the traffic and construction on the normal route. The scenery should be beautiful and thus the camera comes into play. I just came in from the car and there is freezing rain so the roads will be treacherous. I plan to pack extra travel gear in case I end up on foot.

    Here is my route [ click here ]! The route will be 154 miles and should take me around 5 hours to complete. If I were to walk [ click here ] it would take me around 50 hours according to Ask.Com Maps.

  • Fort Missoula Cyclocross Race

    “For a local race, not too many Missoulians came to the old fort to watch the warriors of cyclocross battle it out in the final race of the Montana cycling season. We had the Red Bull girls from Bozeman and a strong contingent from Kalispell who had to overcome some extreme construction conditions on their way south. I was hoping to see more friends and possibly have someone take some photos, but that wasn’t in the cards, and neither was a win for me. That honor went to Chance Cooke, the state champion from Kalispell.

    The course turned out to be a surprise. I was expecting the usual Wednesday Night Race Series caliber course, but I was mistaken. The back end of the course followed some bumpy single track, leading to a sandy run-up that was quite challenging. The course was flat with lots of turns and even some muddy sections.

    As usual, the fields were divided, with the Masters group being the largest. As soon as the seven Men’s A riders came by, we took off to see how many we could pass. Even before the run-up, we had started overtaking the A group.

    I began the race strongly, expecting to settle down after bridging the initial gap to the A group. However, as I sprinted out, Chance Cooke took the lead and created some distance between himself and the rest of the pack. They just vanished into the distance in our wake. This was not acceptable, and after overcoming some form issues, I managed to catch back up to Chance within 5 laps.

    With 4 laps to go, we realized that we were closing in on the Men’s A leaders and decided to help someone from our pack catch them.

    On the third-to-last lap, I took charge. I pushed hard, and we started gaining significantly on the front group. I could hear heavy breathing behind me. Could I be putting everyone in difficulty?

    I pushed until I felt like I needed a little break before the last lap quagmire. As I swung around a corner approaching a railroad crossing (relatively smoother), I went too wide and hit the tracks head-on. The rails are about 6 inches high… I expected to crash, damage the wheels, and possibly end up in the hospital. Remarkably, I bunny-hopped the first rail and managed to lift my wheel again to clear the second one. The back wheel banged on the rails.

    I fully expected to get a flat tire. The leaders took off, and my pace slowed. I nursed the bike, anticipating a flat. I would still secure second place if I could baby the bike for the last lap.

    Fortunately, I didn’t get a flat tire, but my late charge to catch back up proved fruitless. Chance charged to the finish line and took the win. I came in a close second.

    So, that’s how the last race of the season unfolded. There were some enthusiastic cheering sections, and the race was top-notch. It sure feels great to be up with the front group, battling it out.”

  • Last Bike Race

    Last Bike Race

    Hello from Break Espresso, where I’m just about to leave for the last bike race of the year (unless I head to Oregon). Today marks the final race in the Montana State Cyclocross Race Series, right here in Missoula, Montana. The race is set to start at noon at the old fort.

    I’m well-positioned to clinch the series win as long as I finish with a decent result. I’m aiming for the win, especially if a friend or two braves the chilly weather to watch me race. My form is excellent right now.

    Last night, I practiced in Pattee Canyon and had my best workout to date. My mounting and dismounting were the most fluid I’ve ever experienced. Cyclocross is truly a beautiful sport.

    As for my health, it’s a bit uncertain since I woke up with a headache this morning. I can’t seem to get my heart rate as high as it was during the mountain bike season. However, I’m speedy on the cyclocross bike, and that’s what counts.

    Have a great weekend, everyone! If you’re near the old fort in Missoula, please stop by and watch me race. I’d love to see you there.

  • Back From Helena Montana

    Spiral of Death

    Hello from Missoula Montana. There is a heavy snow advisory today for the mountains and it is becoming ever apparent that I better get out my skis. The sun is not up yet but the skies are getting dark blue. Dawn is eminent. My back aches and I am slowly getting things going this morning and I am on the verge of becoming late for work. I must blog!

    The car is not even unpacked yet and that will probably get done around noon. I rolled back into town last night from Helena. I immediately grabbed a Double Haul and sat down to enjoy a evening of Sunday Night Football. I did not move all night. So now here I am after a nights rest ready to spill the beans on yesterday’s events.

    I arrived a little early so I ran into town to enjoy one of my favorite things in life. A Starbucks coffee (hey no one has coffee like theirs … well maybe Bernices Bakery) and a blueberry scone. I don’t know what is in the coffee and scone but I can tell you this; I am now officially unbeaten in the Cyclocross scene using this form of taste bud entertainment.

    Sunday the 12th was in the 40s in Helena Montana but the wind was threatening to make it brutal. As I walked Marcy around the course to get her input on the terrain Centennial Park was brutal. Marcy approved the course and I signed up for the masters race.

    I did around 6 warm up laps and the center piece of this course was a section called “The Spiral of Death” (click to see pic ). The SOD is a spiral where you ride 360 degrees in a circle into the center. In the center is a barrier. You jump that and ride back around 360 degrees back out of the spiral. I think it was pretty cool but a little confusing at first. Almost an optical illusion.

    The rest of the course was pretty fast except for the sections heading west into the wind. The triple barriers were on the fastest part of the course so a dismount at full speed could be rather scary.

    There were 2 run up sections which made me jump for joy. I love the run up! The first one had a barrier so trying to ride it would not work. This was a small run up. Before the second run up there was an off camber section that could cause a wipe out if one did not stay on line. The second run up was interesting. You approach it at high speed and must dismount after a little riser but before a sand pit. Then scramble up the steepest run up of the year.

    As the Mens A came around we lined up for the Masters Race. A minute after the last straggler we started our race. The pace was pushed right off the bat. When we arrived at the SOD we were already catching the Mens A group. I stayed din 2nd place.

    As we came out of the SOD I decided to clock in. I took off on a strong pace and quickly broke away. Throughout the race I continued to increase my lead.

    My goal was to catch all the Mens A group and i did catch two. In the end I caught all but four of the top group. And that was it … I won my third Montana Cyclocross Series Race.

    Next week is the last race of the season here in Missoula Montana. Come out and see me race! I better go now and read my emails.

  • Going to Helena Tomorrow

    Greetings from my Missoula digs, fellow off-road enthusiasts! Tomorrow I’m swapping city streets for singletrack as I head to Helena for the epic MBRA Cross Race #7 at Centennial Park. Fingers crossed the midday start time offers a merciful dose of warmth, because let’s be honest, Montana weather is a fickle beast!

    Today was a whirlwind, starting with a caffeine fix at the trusty Break Espresso, naturally. Laundry, groceries, the usual adulting stuff… then bam! Bank account says “nope,” forcing me to retreat home. But a technical meltdown like that? Not on my watch! Turns out the Web Lodge is back online, thanks to some troubleshooting magic. Phew!

    But what do you do when life throws a wrench in your plans? Simple: grab your bike and hit the trails! My special Pattee Cross circuit in Pattee Canyon was the perfect antidote to frustration. With Marcy, my trusty canine companion, by my side, we spent a glorious half-hour leaping over barriers and conquering climbs. Felt rusty at first, but that familiar flow soon kicked in, leaving me feeling invigorated and ready to shred.

    Now, back in my messy apartment, it’s time to pack, prep, and mentally shift gears for one of the season’s final races. Excitement crackles in the air – I can feel it! This Missoula meltdown has transformed into mountain magic, and I’m ready to tackle Helena with everything I’ve got. ‍♀️

    So stay tuned, folks! Expect race updates, epic trail tales, and maybe even a glimpse into the post-race celebrations (think muddy glory and well-deserved beers). Remember, even when life throws curveballs, there’s always a trail waiting to be ridden, a challenge to be conquered, and a reason to get out there and explore. Until next time, keep it wild, keep it muddy, and keep on rolling!

  • Web Lodge On The Brink

    UPDATE: It was one of my scripts. I got my hands slapped but the site will be allowed to remain. I am a bad coder!

    It has come to my attention that my site may be bringing down my hosts server. I may just get suspended. It all started this morning when I tried to post a blog. That is what I am doing now to try to re-produce the affect.

    The site was down all day. This evening I found that when it went down the blog that I posted was corrupted and I deleted it. Now it seems the site is running fine except the guys that I host with say the server is still bogging down. I am using 95% of the CPU. How could that be.

    So there you have it. Tonight may be the last night you see the lodge.

  • Insominia

    Hello from a chilly, dark morning in Missoula, Montana. The outside cold has crept indoors, but I’m about to remedy that with some cooking. Mysteriously up since 2 am, my mind’s been racing with thoughts of work, refusing to let me sleep. It seems dozing off on the couch has thrown off my routine—I’m instating a new rule: no feet up until 9 pm, then it’s straight to bed.

    In local news, John Tester has secured the election, but Conrad Burns hasn’t conceded defeat. It’s time to step aside, I’d say.

    Apologies for the radio silence on the blog; the Missoula rains have turned my biking trails into hiking paths, but I managed a night ride yesterday. There’s no rest for the wicked with the Thursday Night Group ride calling my name—no post-work naps today.

    This weekend’s cyclocross race in Helena marks my last travel race of the year. With the holiday season upon us, I’m eyeing a Christmas at Aunt Paula’s, a cozier trip compared to the long haul to Yuma.

    Time to gear up for a challenging day at work. With a bit of grit (and coffee), I’ll conquer it.

  • Hanging at the Coffee Shop

    Hanging at the Coffee Shop

    Greetings from Break Espresso, my refuge on this pouring rain day. Despite glimpses of blue, it’s no weather for cycling.

    Curious about capitalization in titles? That tricky rule about which words to capitalize? If you’re familiar, please share your insights. Here, I’m indulging in web and photo projects, my second home’s perks shining through.

    Last night, Marcy and I dove into website work, fueling our session with Double Haul for me and Missoula’s largest dog biscuit for her. Woke up stressed, thinking today was packed with must-dos, only to remember, it’s the weekend. Time is mine to enjoy.

    Now, savoring a lemon scone and coffee, I made a quick dash for a refill amidst a bustling line. Despite daily Wi-Fi woes, Break Espresso remains my go-to spot.

  • The Big Overhaul

    The Big Overhaul

    Picture this: I’m winding down after a long day at the lodge, savoring a frosty Kettle House Double Haul (talk about a well-earned reward!). But here’s the twist: today wasn’t your typical lodge day. It was a whirlwind of code, coffee, and creative collaboration that resulted in…a brand new Web Lodge!

    It all started innocently enough. A morning coffee at Break Espresso (gotta fuel the creative engine, right?), soon morphed into a deep dive into the lodge’s digital domain. I was on a mission: bring back the classic theme, the one that holds so many memories. But why stop there? A little sprucing up never hurt anyone, right?

    Cue Lynn, our resident design guru, dropping by with her magic touch. One brainstorming session later, we were conjuring up “little cool gadgets”: imagine tiny, curious eyes peeking at you from the top bar whenever you’re online with another lodge member! Talk about adding a playful touch!

    So, step inside and take a good look around. We’re still fine-tuning some fonts and headings, but let’s be honest, the lodge is practically ready for a house party! Don’t you think? The best part? We want to hear your thoughts! Whether it’s a thumbs-up for the crawly eyes or a suggestion for a different font, your voice matters. Let’s make this new Web Lodge a space that reflects our community’s personality!

    Cheers to creative collaborations, delicious post-work beers, and of course, a Web Lodge that keeps evolving and thriving. Now, who’s up for a virtual dance party under the watchful gaze of our new digital buddies?

  • Time To Pay The Bills

    Time To Pay The Bills

    Good morning! Here I am, blogging away while I wait for my sluggish internet connection to cough up just a handful of bytes so I can open my Google spreadsheet, the one with my ever-so-lovely list of bills I owe. It’s one of those mornings when I’m still feeling the effects of last night’s Pattee Cake Ride. Yeah, I’m moving a bit slower, but hey, it’s worth it. Funny enough, this was actually my first real workout since I started racing three times a week. Now, with only three races left in the season, I’m focused on staying race-ready. Next one’s in Helena, two weeks out, countdown is on.

    … fast-forward to bill-paying time … Bills are squared away, and now it’s off to work on this frosty, chilly morning. But tonight? Starry Night Ride is on! Hope to catch some of you there.

    Oh, and as a bonus: tonight’s also Missoula’s Festival of the Dead Procession downtown. Definitely worth a look if you’re around. And don’t forget, tomorrow’s First Friday Gallery Night, great excuse to swing by after a couple of Kettle House pints. Cheers to that!

  • In The Dark

    In The Dark

    Good morning! With the state champs behind me and a week off from racing I am sitting here yelling at Marcy to stay out of the toilet. She is always trying to drink out of the toilet and I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be hugging a toilet drinker. I just freaked out the readers that thought that Marcy was my girlfriend . he he!

    I have a coffee sitting off to my right. I am using my cycling shoe as a coffee cup holder as I sit on the couch with my lap top. Speaking of laptops, I just blogged last nights dream [click here for todash ]. Last night I started working out in the dark. I went running at Waterworks Hill with Marcy.

    Today is rent and bills day. I really hate these times and specially today. Last weekends trip to Kalispell really put me in the hole. Specially since my last paycheck did not cover my expenses.

    Yea work! Every day I get asked, “What are you working on? Are you billing for it? Bill for it.” I am being harassed and interrogated constantly even though I have things to work on and quite frankly doing a better job than they think. I do not know how long I can take this constant harassment and not getting paid for my efforts.

    So yea; I am waiting. Waiting to find out what all this is for in the grand plan. Everything else is in place except for my job. I am still going through change and must be patient and accept that all this is a part of the big story of my life.

  • MT Cross Champs

    MT Cross Champs

    Hello from a frosty Missoula Montana where it is only about 13 degrees outside. Butte Montana is below zero at this hour and my luck seems to be getting frosty as well. It all started when I received a paycheck that had been docked a few hundred dollars to penalize me for losing the company money (not my fault, just a fall guy). Then everything started to snow ball; tail lights in car breaking, STI levers on bike breaking, Undercarriage on car damaged, new wheels busted, cycling coat zipper break, cycling booties breaking, and a 3 hour walk home last night after hitting a pot hole on my cross bike.

    Whew, is that enough bad news or what? Well let me begin with Sunday as I traveled to the State Championships in Kalispell. Let me take you through the last 48 hours. Then Ill sum it all up with some thoughts. In the meantime enjoy the pictures to the right of the Mens A Race.

    I knew the day was beginning wrong when I stopped for fuel at Muraults Travel Plaza just off I90 on the road to Kalispell. I am standing there waiting for the fuel nozzle to click off when I got distracted for only a moment only to be brought back into focus with this weird sound. It was fuel spilling all over my car and down the street. By the time I stopped it I had spilled about 3 gallons of fuel. It was all over me and my car. I waited for it to evaporate off the ground and tried to clean up my car.

    After an exhausting trip through some of the worst construction on the planet I arrived at th venue. The champs were being held at an equestrian training field. An excellent place for a cyclocross race. I quickly discovered the damage the the fuel spill had taken on my car. The fuel had done something to the plastic parts and the mini tail lights cracked and broke. The right side mini light was hanging by its wires off the side of my car. To hold it back in I used black tape and to this time it remains tapped. It stands in a long line of other parts needing to be replaced on that German engineered (VW Sucks!) piece of crap. More like the darn thing was made by Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart Sucks!) !

    Barrriers

    Ok, time to settle down and tell you about the great day that was unfolding before me. The sun was out and it was nearing 65 degrees. After a couple warm up laps I had to strip down to my race kit because I was roasting. It looked like it was going to be a truly nice day.

    The course was great and resembled a cross country course more than a cyclocross course. It had 5 sections and the rest was spread out at around 2.5 to 3 miles long. It was real long for a cyclocross course.

    The first section was the run up. It occurred right at the start only 3/4 miles from the gun. It was a short but steep run up that was made even more tricky by the barrier at the bottom and before that a corner … a high speed corner. This was a 15 MPH dismount at the very least. Very fast!

    The second section was the double barriers around 1 mile into the course. These again were right after a bridge and slight corner. Not too tricky but once again at a reasonable amount of speed. These barriers really stirred things up for the Mens A race.

    The third section occurred right after the barriers and was a short sand section. This was not a factor at all because the crossers being a smart bunch soon learned that if you carried your speed right straight across you could hook up on solid ground to the far side and ride around the sand pit.

    The fourth section was 1.5 miles later near the end of the course and was potentially another run up. Instead if you had the right gearing you could ride right up the incline but not at a very fast speed. I saw a A rider run up it faster that I rode it.

    The last section was in the woods about 3/4 mile from the finish. This was a triple barrier set and run up combination. This nice little section began with a small down hill to a corner dismount. Then the barriers were scattered along a slight incline for about 25 yards. I found it best to shoulder the bike.

    Fall Floiage

    At the beginning of the race I noticed that the Masters catagory would be one of the largest fields of the day. There were 4 or 5 Flathead Cycling riders and I instantly knew there would be team tactics involved. This would be a hard race but I decided to keep my wheel glued to a wheel of a man that I knew would be headed to the podium. As we took off I settled in second place behind the leading rider who I fugured I would be battleing for first place with. He missed the next corner and took me with him. Suddenly I found myself in a sea of gasping master riders looking for a position at the front. We approached the first run up and I almost got ran over by everyone as we trounced up the climb. I topped out in real bad position. I took as many back as I could and settled into 6th position.

    As we approached half way around the first lap I saw one competator trying to fix a mechanical. I was now in 5th and I tried my best ot catch others but it all seemed impossable as they were way out front. There were 4 Flatehead Cycling racers in front of me. They seemed to know the course well and was working together to disntance themselves from the rest of us.

    I was finally able to overtake two of the riders in front of me but not before the third place rider crashed right in front of me.

    Beautiful Backdrop

    I figured I was going down but was able to thread my way between him and his bicycle. This all took the pace down and that was just enough for a chasing rider to pass me and put me back into 4th place. I had a chance for third and blew it.

    I did my best to catch the first three the rest of the race but ran out of time and ended up in 4th place even after a pretty decent effort. I was beaten pretty bad.

    Disappointed I stuck around to take pictures of the mens A race and see if they were going 4 deep in awards. Suddenly the weather turned sour. It got cold in fact I believe the temperature dropped as much as 20 degrees. I grabbed my camera and went out to watch the mens A race. It was mostly fun but the old winds and driving rain had me dashing to my car to put on all th clothes that I had brought with me.

    After the end of the mens A race I stuck around like I said in hopes of fourth place recognition. I did not get it as they only went three deep with awards and medals but all was not lost. Someone made fresh soda bread and banana bread. I grabbed a couple pieces and realized that I had brought nothing to recover with. I had to make a dash for home so I could get something to eat. I was broke and out of cash.

    Run Up

    The drive home was very slow as pretty much of the entire trip I was in a construction zone going 35 miles an hour. We were even stopped for an hour while the other lanes could use our lane. At one point I was following everyone else when the detour went off road and across a field. I got high centered and heard a loud banging. I had damaged the undercarriage of my car and could just hear pieces rattling around. I was so upset and almost fed up w
    ith the whole Montana Experience.

    So that was Sunday and one would think that all is well given that I had so much bad luck breaking things. well! It does not end there. After getting yelled at all day at work I decided what I needed was a long ride on my cross bike. As I was leaving my apartment I noticed that my STI levers were broke and I was pre-bummed for the ride. Could things get any worse for two days.

    Just as I was nearing the other side of town a full 4 miles away from the apartment I hit a pot hole. instantly my tire deflates and I stop. I feared the worst as my new wheels are new and how could I do this to a new set of wheels for the second time (last time I ruined a brand new set of Rolffs in Pattee Canyon). I tried to air up a new tube using my cartridges but it just discharges into the extremely cold night air. By now it was a frigid 15 degrees out. My rims are areo and are deeper than normal so the valve stem was not long enough on my replacement tube. I screamed some profanities and started to walk home.

    After a little while I figured that I could walk better without my booties. When I tried to remove them the zipper broke. Now I was mad. Then to make things worse I went to take my jacke t off to stuff the rear pocket with my booties and the zipper in the jacket busted. I couldn’t zip up.

    So there you go the rest of the night I walked home and fell asleep on my apartemnt floor. I am finally thawing out and recovering from yet another Bill Martin adventure.

    Run
    Over
    Doug
    Run Up

    Tonight I think i am safe to just go do laundry but you never know. It is haloween after all!

  • Going to Kali

    MapGood morning, I just finished my breakfast of Morningstar Farms Sausage, hashbrowns, and cheesey eggs.

  • Pumpking Carving

    Good morning from the Break Espresso in Missoula Montana. I just got done with my caramel roll and coffee and also was able to upload a picture [ click here ] of a result of last nights festivities. Last night my friend hosted a pumpkin carving party and I do believe this is the most prestigious carving party to be invited to in the greater Missoula area.

    So I ran over to Le Petit Outre to cash in my winnings from last Wednesday's series win to get a loaf of bread. Then I gathered up some olive oil, found some balsamic, and bought a pumpkin.

  • First Place Tie In Mens A

    Good evening from the chilly and dark streets of Missoula. Just returned from the concluding race of the Wednesday Night Cyclocross Race Series, securing a fourth-place finish. This result places me in a tie for the top spot in the Men’s A series standings.

    Despite the deceiving sunshine, the ride out to Fort Missoula was met with biting winds. I did a few laps around the course to warm up, finding the setup not too shabby, hinting at potential experimentation for the upcoming Montana Series Races here in three weeks.

    The course featured a short run-up and an engaging slalom section with four hairpin turns, stretching out with lengthy road stretches and bumpy flats. Opting for a larger gear, I managed to glide over the rough patches smoothly.

    Post-race, as results were announced and series champions named, there was a moment of suspense before the tie for first place in the Men’s A series was revealed. To my surprise, my name was called out alongside another as co-winners. A mix of shock and pride washed over me, especially as I was awarded some Kettle House brew and free bread from Le Petit Outre. An exciting end to the series!

  • Lessons From The Trial

    Lessons From The Trial

    Now and again I think of things while I am riding the single track deep in the woods. This is my classroom and temple. Last night as I was coming back into town with a big golden sunset in my face I had some thoughts I thought I would jot down in my blog. I am coming off success in the Montana Cyclocross Series (1st place right now). Today’s big thought is about opening the door to live’s biggest gifts. When I open my self up to success I sometimes get it. Can we compare that strategy to love as well.

    I say open ourselves to love and success that is available to us. You can climb that mountain!

    Fossil fuels run out but there is an endless supply of love and success.

    When were are open to this abundant supply we will receive it and we may find it coming from unique places … including from ourselves.

    Love heals our hearts and success strengthens it. Our needs get met and our spirits are then able to fly. I can ride strong and fast.

    We can deny these things no longer. Of course these things I write in my blog but can I open the door to receive my own suggestions?

  • Sun Missing and Cross Results

    Good morning from Missoula Montana where the sun refuses to come up and I have just finished off my breakfast and now working on a cup of coffee. The sun refuses to come up because it is sleepy and yesterday it had that day off (sick day). We all hope the sun gets better soon and returns in our lives. we appreciate the sun e, even in the winter. Get well Soon! Yesterday I did my best to spark a little sunshine in my life and it came in the form of a good placing (cyclocross) I had in last nights Wednesday Night Cyclocross Race Series .

    Even though an ass hole customer at work has enjoyed a reign over my happiness I was able to break though the negativity coming out of Washington state to place fourth at the scramble in the rain last night. This week’s course had two barrier sections, two hill climbs (one steep), and even one run up. It also was laced with two down hills one which took a racer out right in front of me. Lets hope that racer recovers and returns to the race scene soon. There is nothing more exciting that sketching down a gravel pile in rain; the rocks slippery like a jar of pickled eggs.

    So the race started and I took my usual place in the back. the entire lap I lost ground and when I came around to the start finish line I was far back and probably the farthest I have ever been. I did not panic

    In fact I really didn’t care. I got first place last weekend and I figured I would relax and enjoy this one. Then the B riders and fellow masters caught me and passed. This was the last straw. I was not going to let that go. I stepped it up a notch and started to rein them in one lap at a time. It was 4 laps to go when I decided to take charge of my race.

    On the forth lap I battled it out with this ass hole mountain biker. I have never seen this guy in any mountain bike races so I know it was a road racer on a mountain bike. This guy hates me, every time I pass him he puts every ones life in danger and pulls these ass hole stunts to get back by. This guy is weak and doesn’t last long. Tonight I had no patience and passed him back and in the same fashion he took me back. It almost resulted in crashing an innocent competitor and I apologized as I cut to the inside.

    So now I was passed the ass mountain bike guy. All I had left was the leader of the B group and master rider. On the third lap I took him and also picked off a A rider in the process. I took off as fast as I could muster and it worked. They just let me go. All I had to do was hold on.

    Though out the second lap I lead a bunch of people and there was no one in front of me to pass so I just tried to keep it smooth. So smooth that on the last lap I felt like maybe I relaxed a bit too much and felt pressure from behind. I attacked the barriers and hills. On the last set of triple barriers I accidentally stepped on one of them and I crashed. It was at substantial speed so my bike shot into the air and landed about ten feet from me. I picked up the bike and the handle bars were bent and the brakes were twisted. I started to repair.

    Just as I got back going the entire group was passing me back. Then I got on and my chain was off. I peddled frantically and luckily the chain caught the ring and jumped back on. I took off after all the guys I just passed.

    On the last run up the leader of the master group broke his saddle and I decide to get back what ii had lost. I charged to the finish line catching everyone that I was leading over except for 1 A rider. If I would not have crashed I would of places 3rd.

    Now it is Thursday and if I can survive not getting fired and can go cash in my prize from last night I might be able to make a party that I was invented to but had to decline due to a hardship I am experiencing. Tally ho and get well soon sun!