My new Lid

It was time for a new helmet. Went with the Bell Sweep.

Cracked

After riding the trails at grand Geneva today I noticed that my frame was cracked. Not the best photo but the seat post broke right above the weld. Damn, I was just starting to really like that bike, now I'll have to see how fast the shop can get me a frame.

Sick

Guess I now know why I was so tired and hungry last week as this cold must have been brewing and it has wiped me out. Could only manage to make it through a couple of hours of work Monday and today. At least the tour was on to watch. No riding for me till maybe Friday?

Eau Claire Race

Went to Eau Claire for the annual 4th of July race. This is one of the best places to ride your mountain bike, fun flowing stretches of single track that are fast with some minor technical sections. I love riding here but the course does not favor me for a race. Just to fast of a lead out pace for me to match, so where you reach the trail is pretty much the place your going to stay, coupled with the cold I came down with on Saturday it made for a so so race on Sunday. Most of the team made the trip with Jen taking 6th overall in the women's expert division (1st in her age group) and Chris taking 2nd in his comp. age group.

Mid 80 temps and plenty of sun for race day. My cold was killing me and with a sore throat riding in this dust cloud for 2 miles was not going to help. This is what the lead out to the trails looks like. A couple of miles of dusty double track and unless your the lead dog your eating dirt.

Here's Jen who got off to a great start leading this group into the first corner.

Sager was in town so he decided to mix it up with our mid west pros and came away with the win. That's him the team Jamis rider leading into the first corner.

Picture of Jerrod (in green) working his way through the first turn.

More Parts

Since I liked the way the Bonty XDX tire was rolling on the back of the bike I decided to put one up front. Little bit of trouble getting this one to seal up tubeless but after 45 minutes of pumping and adding sealant the beads finally went in place.

Also put a new carbon extra lite seat post on. Takes another 70 grams off the bike.

Been a bad week for the diet, as I've been eating 10 meals a day. Must be stress, or I'm just going through a growth spurt. Racing this weekend, at least the course is somewhat flat, no killer climbs.

The weather has stayed hot and I was able to get in a couple of long rides. Monday I did a quick ride to get the legs working again after Saturdays race. Tuesday I made it to the club ride and we managed to split into several groups (turn outs have been great). We did 35 miles and finished just as it was starting to get dark. Friday I rode 50 miles from my home to Elgin and back. As usual I forgot to bring something to munch on and started running out of energy between Algonquin and Crystal lake. I know I had slowed when this cool looking soft shell turtle was wanting to race. Not to often I see this type of turtle anymore.

I had to stop and move him to the side of the trail before someone ran him over. My good deed of the week.

Race #5

This one was tough, real tough. After being blessed with cool temps. for the first 4 races this was payback from the racing gods, as the 87 degree, high humidity took its toll on everybody. Last year at this race I had a DNF, my goal this year was to finish.

My starts are killing me. After getting a call up to the front I lined up along the outside so I had room to move around any pileups, as Don yelled go I had trouble getting clipped in, again! this has happened twice this year already, I ride all the time and never have trouble finding the damn cleat except it seams on race starts. After getting up to speed and climbing up the base of the ski hill we turned into the first of several rocky slick single track sections. Do to my fumbling around at the start I hit this section behind a couple of guys who crashed hard in the rocks, those little mistakes cost me as I had to work my way slowly through them and get back to chasing again. This course is total torture for me, it seems like you climb gradually for 70% of the course, then 20% of slick rocky rooty trail, and maybe 10% of flat recovery area. I was having real trouble catching my breath the whole first lap. I think the heat and humidity was bothering me like it never has before. As I came by the start finish for lap two I almost quit, but something kept me going and I hit the rocky single track for the second lap, and when I came through it I was feeling better.

My second and third laps kept getting better, but I had never, ever put myself through this kind of punishment before. I was making some weird sounds as I rode up the hills on that last lap, and when I crossed the finish line I was happy that I endured, but quickly felt the effects as I started shivering, and my back locked up on me.

Once I downed a couple of bottles of water and changed clothes I started feeling a bit better. I went and checked the results and I tied my best finish with a 4th. place. One minute and twenty seven seconds away from my first podium. That slow start came back to haunt me.

Bike racing is hard! try it sometime.