I made the trip to DesMoines last weekend for 2 days of Spooky Cross. With 2 days of rain leading up to the races I was a bit worried about course conditions but by race time there was very little mud. The promoters did an awesome job laying out courses that had tons of unique features. There was some road, trail, bean field, climbs(both short and long), and of course barriers both in the open and on the climbs.
Troy searching for a good line in the bean field. Day 1 was tough because of the mud, day 2 was tough because it was soft, rutted, and into a 40mph wind. Sure glad we dropped into the woods shortly after the beans.
First lap up the climb/Run-up in Saturday's 1,2,3 race. It was steep at the bottom, then they put 1x4's on the hill to make it harder.
Here I am with Iowa fast guy Brian Eppen. He won both days 1,23 race. Saturday I stuck with him for most of the race but ended up 2ND. By Sunday I was getting tired and all I could do was hang on for 3rd.
Once again I've got to give credit to the promoters, the courses, the crowd, the overall vibe was awesome. The amount of work and thought that went into the courses was amazing. They have good prizes and plenty of good food, beer for everybody. I'll go back and I hope to bring a number of KC folks with me.
I dare you to take that buck! I think the devil is eyeballing a few for himself.
Yep, this weekend I'm going to try something different, cross in Iowa. A few of the guys from up north are heading for DesMoines for Spooky Cross so I figured why not. No matter where you race this weekend it's going to be muddy so bring out the buckets and boots. I guess this is what they call real cross weather.
From what I've heard around town it sounds like there was a good turnout at both races this weekend. I saw these picture's by Kyle Reynolds on Localcycling. Nice shot of the Masters race going off. This one is fun to watch on a weekly basis as the racing is tight.
Then there's Nate Woodman bunnie hopping the barriers. Nate can bunnie hop just about anything and is a crowd pleaser for sure (especially when he occasionally misses).
Then there was my weekend.........Family issues, a week of sick kids, ect., ect...you get the idea. What a difference a week makes, last weekend I felt great, this weekend....not so much. All of the above kept me from racing Saturday but I decided to give it a go Sunday. I got a good start and slotted in where I wanted to be but after a lap I knew it was not to be. I pulled the plug early and decided to ride hard enough to get a workout but not hard enough to wear myself down. I'm not sick.......yet, but I'm the only one in the house that has not had it yet. Anyway, I think this picture of me was taken just after I downed a beer and I'm getting goofy all ready. I rarely drink and I'm sure the last time I downed a full glass of beer was over 20 years ago. I do have to admit that the lap after I drank the beer was probably the fastest lap I rode all day!
We Are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The race starts with a paved section that leads into a quick 180 into the woods. I didn't get the best start but made a bunch of spots up by out braking some guys into the hairpin. I think I was in the top 5 going through the woods and tried to hang onto the Shadd and Joe express. Halfway through the first lap Shadd got a gap and soon after Joe jumped away and tried to catch Shadd. Mark and I chased and were holding the gap close until Shadd noticed that Joe was alone. It wasn't long before the TREK boys were together and it was 2 against 2 with Brian Jensen alone not far behind.
Mark and I worked together for a few laps and here we are rolling through the ditch. After a few laps Mark fell off the pace and I managed to put in a fast lap with about 4 laps to go and put some time on Brian. Disaster struck as I lost the front wheel in a gravel filled turn starting 3 laps to go. After I collected my glasses and straighten my bars I got going but Brian soon caught me. On the last lap I managed to use some MTB skills in the gravel/woods section and get a little gap on Brian. I knew he would make up time on me on the road sections so I was determined to make it stick . 
I got an early start Saturday and headed out to Topeka for the HPT GP. When I arrived there were SCCA car races going on at the road course but what I was really interested in was the drag strip. My dad drove dragsters for the first 12 or so years of my life so I spent most of my weekends at the track. One of these days I'll get out there for the Nationals.
So after a fair amount of time geeking out at the cars going by I decided to get down to the bike racing part of the evening. In the picture you can see the lit dirt track where the course was set up. It's just about race time and Matt and Troy are about ready to go. The course was set up inside the oval dirt track with a little bit outside behind the grandstands. Pretty fun course, long high speed straights with a bumpy, tight infield section. I got a good start and made the front group and after a few laps it ended up as a group of 4 with Bill and Adam going in and out of the group. Most of the race I was fine with the pace except when we hit the 2 back straight sections. Here Bryan and Joe would put the hammer down and I'd get gapped but get back on before we hit this funky off camber turn leading to some stairs out of the race track. This turn would prove to be my down fall as with 3 laps to go I bobbled and lost contact with the group. I was struggling to close the gap when Jeff Winkler fell losing contact with the group as well. Now we were both were chasing but with 1 to go Jeff attacked and got away from me and that's how we finished. The order ended up, Joe, Brian, Jeff, and Me. Not too shabby considering how the week went.
Man it's dark at 2am! It's also totally dead out, not 1 car passed me on the ride home from the shop. Can't complain but it just seems weird that in a town the size of KC I can ride 7 miles without passing or being passed by a car. Sure is fun riding at night but it really sucks getting up in the morning.
Woa!!!!!! I think I scared myself! The flash was a bit bright and after I blinded myself I about plowed in to a car. Note to self....be careful while taking photo's at 15 mph.....at night!
Cross this weekend under the lights!!!!!!
Yahoooooooooooo
What a bummer, another victim of the roof top bike rack. This bike was not as expensive as the last one but it was just a few days old! Ouch! Fairly busy day for me at the shop and just did a bike commute for recovery.
Pre-cut.......
Post cut dinner at Red Robin. Burgers were pretty good and Jonas thought he could wedge down this monster burger. He a did pretty good job but hurt himself in the process, I thought he was going to puke.
Wed: we woke up to find Jonas actually ready to puke, but from the Flu, not the food. This is every parents nightmare....which parent is going to call in sick and say home with the sick child. For us it's not much of a challenge at this time of the year. I called in sick but that's why I do what I do for work.
Thursday: more of the same for Jonas, I've got him with me all day so there will me no riding for me. On the positive note......it's time for Scott's stag party. All I'm going to say about this one is that we had a great time and whoever came up with the idea to go to the Jazz district had a strike of genius. There was no folk dancing to be seen but just the mention of the Jagermeister girls ought to draw a reaction from a few people.
Friday: Jonas is better but still can't go to school, no riding for Tom, much frustration. Rehersal dinner for Scott and Tanya, good food, good friends, I feel much better.
Saturday: Troy and I get out for a bike path blast, 38 miles later the legs are tired and it's time to get ready for a wedding. I don't know where to begin so I'm just going to say that everything was perfect for the whole wedding/reception. We had a great time, thanks for letting us be a part of your special day guys!
Sunday: I think the wife and I have a wedding hangover today! I didn't even drink but I just feel dead today. Got out for a short ride but just didn't have it in me to get out to cross practice.
Now it's time to hit the reset button, Jonas is getting better and with no special events on the horizon it's time to get on the bike!
I saw this a few blocks from the shop, cross at your own risk! Little bit of voodoo in Shawnee with those dolls skewered on the poles.
Pic of me from last weekends race. I can tell it's later in the race because the chain is still on. I'm still a bit sore in the back and knee from last weekend. Good thing I'll be out on the dance floor with the wife at Scott's wedding instead of racing in Omaha.