THOR's Hammer

Random Notes and Observations on a solid weekend.

- When you're an espresso freak, it really hurts when your machine flakes on you before you ride to Platte. Long day, no espresso. However, that was nearly the only negative of the day.

- Okay, the wind wasn't my friend riding out to Platte, but that just reminded me of TransIowa, so it was good. Sort of.

- Cameron and Sam came up and said hello just after the start of the Sport Field looking like members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Apparently, they worked it like rockstars the night before. Cameron and I chatted quite a bit throughout the day and, as I believe CVO said, he's just a solid guy who I think we'd all love to have around more, even if he wasn't blazing fast. Just a great guy.

- Travis failed to rock the chops, but it was fun both watching him race and hearing him answer the various questions posed. Well spoken and articulate. No wonder he made Chops In Modern Cycling.

- Supporting Sam's "Your bikes suck" theory, as the raffle came to the point where the wheels were given out, Cameron looked at me and said, "You could use those, couldn't you?" Ummm Yeah.

- Over 2K was gathered for THOR. Props out to John and the LBC crew. While I am sure it was a labor of love. Putting on an event like that is never easy. Nice job to everyone involved.

- Finally, the realization hit that I need to go to more local races, so expect the Snob to be rocking the Single Speed Category next year. Good times.

See You at Platte

Depart Cycleworks at 7am.

Ride SS style to Platte.

Take it from there.

Sherlock Holmes

Applying strict analysis to completely circumstantial evidence, I have reached the conclusion that we will have not just one trans-state race to enjoy next year. But two.

I submit to you, that the Trans-Kansas will be coming to us in May of 2006.

Exhibit A: Mr. Kerkove's post from Friday, October 21st.

Exhibit B: Guitar Ted's post from Wednesday, October 26th.

Either that, or it's that bastard Colonel Mustard.

Now if I could just track down William Shippert.

By the way, don't we know some people, who know some people down in Kansas? People who may even work in a bike shop in fact?

Moving on to 2006

It's funny how the mind and body connect. Once Cross was out for me this year, I went from wanting to go out and try to get better everyday to having no interest in training hard. This last week has been about commuting to work, some exercise ball stuff while watching the World Series and that's about it. My get up and go has got up and went. Therefore, I will be playing the role of cheerleader this weekend at Platte. By the way, sweet Platte River Riot artwork to whomever designed it.

2006 planning now begins in earnest. Time to get the winter Y membership and lose more weight.

As long as 06 doesn't turn out to be as foul as 05. The Snob is hoping it looks a little something like this:

New Weapon from the kids at IF: Ti Deluxe of the 29er variety. Paint scheme is a well-kept secret.

Trans-Iowa is a must. (Note promo on the right side.) Sam, Tyler and Rock are verbals. Whose gonna be the first Lincoln-ite to finish it?

Leadville appeals to me if I do the Leadman (which is all of their races including the 100 mile run) or on a Single Speed. Just doing it again to do it, not so much.

The Endurance 100 is new to the radar. There is an interesting thread on it here. Primarily single track you say? Please elaborate.

Another consideration is an AR this year. The only problem is how slim the selection is anywhere nearby when you feel like at least 24hrs and maps are a must.

Note on the pic. No, I did not let that guy borrow one of my bikes. Why do you ask?

One Question Interview

Even though I couldn't make it up to Omaha over the weekend, I still wanted to bring the "One Question Interview" to the Snob so I emailed Sam to get the ball rolling.

EnduroSnob: During Sunday's race, what was one non-race thought that popped into your mind?

Sam: It kind of has to do with the race, but I remembered a quote from Paul Sherwin. I think I first heard it last year, he used it again this year. "Deck to engine room, we need more power." That was right between turn, speed up, oxygen, brake, turn, gas, oxygen, more oxygen, shit this ground is soft, pedal, turn, OXYGEN dammit, can't you people hear me?

Congrats on the two top tens, Sam. Be warned I will be going cheerleader on you during the next cross weekend.

Not one hyperlink in this post. I feel lazy.

Costumes

It's mid-morning, rainy and I'm sitting drinking espresso, listening to Broken Social Scene while my crew just chills. By all accounts I should be racing a bit of single speed cross today, but oh well. I don't know anything about Standing Bear, but maybe some mud will even make an appearance. Hope everyone goes hard, feels strong and has a blast.

I started to spend some time this morning looking at some 29er info, but came across a post from Guitar Ted, co-conspirator/creator of TransIowa that led me in a different direction. "29ers, Punk Rock and Zealots."

Wherever the loose and floating connection between Punk and Bikes is, that's where I seem to want to be and remember it first getting framed for me by Hurl on the CRC Site. My first thought wasn't that the read was cool, but that it simply made sense to me. Apparently, it makes sense to a few other too. The Ashville band "Dead Things" gave a good example in 2002.

In an interview with Singletrack Magazine, Travis Brown commented, "I think that a timeless characteristic of the cycling industry is a healthy desire to be unique and I think there will always be individualistic minds there that we can count on for something new and fun." Similiar notion in a different context.

Of course, the philosophy major in me could break all of this apart really quickly into commentary about existentialism and pigeon holes, but why bother. Right now this little costume fits really comfortably.

I'd still love to be racing my bike.

Or maybe I'm just bored.

Fame and Fortune Await.

The new and improved TransIowa site has Emily front and center. Hopefully, she won't be the only woman to take the start this year. The Rock has already been asking me questions about lights and logistics. It's nice to have friends that over think things as much as I do. Team OverAnalysis in the house.

In endurance on the other side of the world, The Crocodile Trophy is going on in Australia as we speak. Thirteen stages through the land of Oz. Only twenty people took the start and only one was a woman.

Visited the hotel last night to learn a few tips from Mohawk and watched Corey working a wheel. Looked completely like an art meets science situation. Good thing Johnny has my back.

Time to research 29ers.

The Snob Suggests

A sunset ride through Wilderness.

The comeback kid (Jeff) and I rolled through the park last night and I really wish I had taken a camera. Sure, there were the usual fall colors and brisk, cool air, but as we started back from the South end of the park we were met with a grand sunset with the sky painted with various reds and oranges, then had the cloud steaked full moon beaming down on us heading home on the Rock Island.

If we would have only had a touch of the Ludwig-Van, it would have been perfect.

Btw, if anyone has room for a Snob and his bike heading up to the cross race Saturday, I could use a ride.

One Question Interviews - Coming to a Race Near You?

In the midst of espresso enjoyment this morning, I visited CyclingNews and found my way over to Dave Zabriskie's website. Apparently he has been posting One Question Interview throughout the year. The Snob highly recommends you visit and give it a read. Here's an example:

DZ: Thor what does it feel like to have the coolest name in the peleton?
TH: I didn’t know it was a cool name.
DZ: Trust me it is.
TH: O.k. then. It feels pretty cool then.
DZ: Thanks for the interview.

Dry, subtle, what could be better? I may do this at cross races this year. Seems to fun to pass.

Great ride today. Out for an hour on the gravel solo, then met up with Jeff to flow through Wilderness and enjoy the fall. If it wasn't for the aroma of fresh horse droppings, it would have been perfect.

Saturday Sundries

Woke up at 6am and was sitting outside drinking a mocha waiting for the Jeff at 6:30. I am not a fan of early mornings. By 7am, we were cruising through Wilderness and at roughly 7:30, just went down in a 'S' curve, the victim of wet soil and matted leaves. Kneecap to top tube. We cruised it in from there. I am convinced I am a jinx for those who ride with me. I come away unscathed from the Dave and Corey head-on, then Jeff gets the rug pulled out from under him. It's like I am a riding version of Murphy's Law lately.

Cameron is sitting in the 12th spot at Moab as of about 10 minutes ago. His teammate, Nat Ross is in the lead.

The new cross rims hit the shop today. Hopefully, the hubs will be soon to follow. Time is running short.

I cannot believe how much I am enjoying riding the single speed. I am really looking forward to cross SS style. And with the way I ride...

Will There Be Chops?

In case you haven't been keeping up, Travis Brown and Cameron Chambers will be at Platte on the 29th. Two National Champions at endurance events in 2005 (Marathon and 24hr respectively.) There will apparently be a question and answer sessions with them. If Travis is clean shaven, of course then enquiring minds will want to know, "Travis, where are the chops?"

Speaking of Cameron and 24s, he'll be rocking Moab with the help of Sam this weekend. Live updates to be had on the Granny Gear site, just follow the link.

Jeff and I will be single speeding it through Wilderness in the early am. I predict espresso galore for the Snob shortly afterword.

3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross

Roughly a month ago, I posted some information about the Iron Cross race. Well, in a patch of boredom I decided to research the inspiration for the race, the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross event.

In what I found to be a happy surprise, this race has been running for 44 years. It's an obsession with riders from all walks of life. In fact, this gent has set up a blog focused only around this race. It reminds me of a conversation Kris, Rick and I had at Leadville regarding people who do the race year after year after year. In the end, we didn't really get it. Of course, I could see myself becoming that way about TransIowa, so no stones being thrown from me.

I can't help but think about how the 3 Peaks would be a great race to schedule a race calendar around. Vacation in Europe. You already speak the language. Crush yourself for day. Grab a spot of tea and fly home.

Snob Favorites on a Roll

Like Butta'

Jeff Kerkove scored the express win over the weekend. Fly to Japan, kick ass, fly home. Now we need to get Kerkove, SoloGoat and Cameron all in the same event. Maybe some chops as well.

Wilderness is great right now. Do not delay. The Avey-a-tor and I went out last night and swung through SS style.

Endurance News Fit for a King

Chalk another win up for the Sologoat and, of course, riders sporting Chops. We need to get the Goat up against Cameron simply because those would be too cats I can pull for as a spectator.

TransIowa just got more difficult and a bit longer as well. The key difference. NO SUPPORT. Only a dropbag at the halfway point of Algona. If the wind is anything like last year, I may have to grow the chops extra thick for this years edition. Btw, they are also accepting 75 riders this year, but given how quickly the thing filled up last year (a day and a half) I wouldn't expect anything less this edition. Browsers at the ready!! The caption for the recycled photo will now read, "What do you mean no help?"

If you haven't checked it out yet, Sam I Am, took some more time out of his allotted 15 minutes of fame in Bicycling Mag.

Confederacy of a Single Dunce

How's this for train wreck preparation for the duathlon this weekend? First, instead of prepping for a Sunday race, I thought the race was on Saturday and believe that until about 10:15 Friday night, we Jeff gave me a call to tell me I had it wrong.

So, Saturday I took the Giant out for a spin in Wilderness to keep the legs fresh, but managed in the process to break yet another spoke on the rear wheel I have been nursing along with since July. Note to self. If you are going to be a cheap ass and not buy new equipment when you need it, you better be prepared to suffer when it fails. Of course, I discovered this little problem at roughly 8pm so while I did make a couple of calls to try to resolve things, it was pretty useless.

I then decided to make lemonade by riding the Fascist Killer out to Platte and simply helping out, but sleep right through my alarm. Overall, just a genius weekend. I did discover that Jeff had, essentially, saved the day for me by leaving a note on my car saying that he had brought a wheel for me and that once I got to Platte, we would make it work. Of course, the family needed our one car so that was out as well. Thanks though, Jeff. It means a lot that you tried like that.

On the good side of life, I did have a great ride through Wilderness and around the gravel roads down South. It was certainly a Mind Clearer, which is Snob vocularly for a ride that helps you work all of the build up crap out of your head.

Here's to well made plans and not knowing how to execute them.

Nebraska Cycling - A Bit of Perspective

Recently, we have been considering plans to go back to Indiana for Thanksgiving. In the process, I discovered that I can take my cross bike and race in Indianapolis over that weekend. If you look at the link, you'll see that the event, on the surface, doesn't seem to have nearly the following that our Nebraska Cyclo-Cross Series has. While there is something comparable to the MidAmerica Cross Cup in the Ohio Valley Cyclo-Cross Series, it's the lack of depth around Indianapolis and in Indiana that's really interesting. (which is also a round house compliment to this cat.)

Indianapolis is the 12th largest city in the country, but lacks the scene we have in the Lincoln/Omaha area. I used to work at one of the larger stand-alone bike shops in the country, Bicycle Garage of Indianapolis, but was just amazed at by the cycling community once we moved here and I started working at CycleWorks part-time.

The point of this little diatribe isn't to crack on Indianapolis, but to simply voice an appreciation for what exists here. No scene is perfect, but if you look at what's happening with the effort toward the Wilderness Loop, you see the positives far out weigh the negatives.

Apologizes for the rant, but I hated Lincoln when I moved here, so you can see I have come a long way. Now if we can just get CVO and the waraxe bob to cruise through Indy cranking the MPU and spreading some soul, I might be more excited to go back.

We now return to your regularly scheduled snobbery.

This Most Foul Year of our Lord, 2005.

Corey is now out of physical action for an extended period of time. C-Funk has a clot behind his left knee that is requiring him to take two shots a day in the stomach for five days. He's got the medical details available at the House of Cornbread.


As H.L. Mencken said, sometimes you just have to "raise the black flag and start slitting throats."

Secret Training Callout: Part I

Remember this quote from the D Street Blog not too long ago?:

"I'm only racing if you race. I'm out of shape also. Jay Thomas"

Apparently, Mr. Bike Shop Owner's been holding out on us a bit. 2nd and 4th for the first two races of the Mid-America Cross Cup.

Cloaks and Daggers.

The Grand Loop

Awkward. Yesterday opened with riding promise and potential and ended up being a lot of nothing. In the morning, prospects were high that Corey, Jeff and I would roll. Then No, then Yes, then maybe then the afternoon, then just Corey and I, then just me cruising through Wilderness and riding a touch of gravel against the wind. Boring but good. The kind of day were I would be tempted to ride with an iPod. I did also sneak a run in so it wasn't all bad.

There is some news from the endurance racing world to report. Apparently, Mike Curiak will be hosting a second race called the Grand Loop. "The Grand Loop is a remote wilderness race that is 350 miles." (That's via Jeff Kerkove's site.) This is the kind of thing that excites me. The only way it could be better would be route choices.

Apparently, there is also a push to make RIDE424 the site for all things endurance racing. I'm down, as Karl Etzel, from what I have read really seems to want to do it right.

Up with Wilderness. Down with Hamster Wheels.

Break Right!! Break Right!! NO LEFT!! LEFT!!

Nothing like a head-on at Wilderness. Corey and I had been out for a couple hours on a gravel/Wilderness Combo affair, when we decided to take one last pass from North to South at a pretty good clip. Shortly after the suspension bridge, where you can hold nice pace through every turn, Dave Draus was holding a similar tempo but heading North.

If it could have been caught on video, it would have been a great adventure in rodeo clown style mountain biking. Dave and I both started to break right, respectively, which usually works well, but we were actually to the inside of each others right side so I darted left, narrowly avoiding the worst possible scenario, but that left Dave heading straight for Corey. By the time I had fallen my way into the briars at the side of the trail, Dave and Corey had found themselves piled up together with their bikes; a mass of tall skinny guys and 29ers.

While the three of us gathered ourselves and talked about it being one of the strangest crashes we had experieced, Dave found his left hand to be pretty swollen. As we rode out, it was clear this was more than just a bump and Dave was riding one handed out of the park. It could have been a lot worse, but I still feel badly for Dave.

Dave, I hope the x-rays are negative. Take care.