29nSNGL*

From our homie Aaron in Wichita…

Tough day for team Bicycle Pedaler.  WC broke his helmet on lap 2, finished 4 more cause he’s a badass.  Sev forgot to set his alarm so we had no one on the course for 45 minutes.  Then he broke a carbon lefty his first lap.  I broke a bar end, being stupid.  Our fourth guy well, did just 4 laps, ‘cause he’s a puss.  Finished 15 minutes AFTER the first solo rider did his 100.

I thought I was the only single speed rider out there.  To my amazement this well dressed cat on a Redline 29er showed up.  I had no idea we had so many brothers out here in Wichita!  Still trying to figure out his name.  70 degrees in KS in October, we’ll take it!  Enjoy the pics bros!

#3

Here is another version for the vision impaired. Also a cliff notes details in case reading is also an issue. We don’t discriminate!

The Pink Trike

The Dakota Five-O 2010 Re-Play

I’m going to keep this pithy. It was the eve of Sunday, August 29th, one week to the start of the Dakota Five-O. I checked our list to be sure we had everything, about 3 times, just to be sure we didn’t forget anything. We looked good and headed out at 8:

Once at the camp ground, we set up base camp. Once that was done, we headed to the Cedar House for some breakfast. Upon our arrival back to base camp, we ran into B-Rad who was dropping in to see if we had arrived yet. It sure was good to see him. Later that day, B-Rad, Renee and I headed to Crow Peak Brewery and had a few cold ones. I would highly recommend the next time you are in Spearfish, you get your ass down to Crow Peak Brewery.

Tuesday, B-Rad guided us around Tinton Rd.. We hit Aid Station 2 (Old Baldy Trail Head) and to the new Bacon Station stop. Renee wanted to be sure her skilled support efforts, were in full effect on race day. B-Rad and I left Renee at Iron Creek Lake and rode to Old Baldy Trail Head and back to Iron Creek Lake, but only after we climbed to the top of Old Baldy Summit. The way back down was really gnarly and fun. A big thanks to B-Rad for showing us around.

Fast Forward to Friday…

People started rolling in to the Spearfish City Campground. We were not alone any longer. The camp ground started filling in, filling in fast. Curtis Patak (Coach) a long time fast guy from Minneapolis and his girlfriend Mary showed up and then I thought I saw Kent Karjala (KK) roll-in. I rode over to see if it was, to my surprise, it was Tyson Meyer (from Penn Cycle), alone. He drove by himself, KK dropped out.

Saturday, a few peeps from the Minneapolis crew went out for a ride, to check out the new section that replaced the Citadel slide. The Dakota Ridge was so freaking spectacular with some of the best single-track I have ever ridden. I had rode this prior and got a few pictures of the new trail. It remind me of Levis Trow Mounds, but only sweeter and sexier, and with killer views.

Woke up at 4:50am to a chilly 45 degrees and got suited and booted. Headed out to the local gas station to fill my messenger bag full of water bottles. On my way back to base camp, I stopped by Common Grounds Coffee for a warm cup of Joe and enjoyed some conversation with a few fellow campers I meet, Robert and Christopher. On my way out, I stopped to wish Mark Savery “good luck” with the race and rolled back to base camp to wake up my support crew. Renee and Disco loaded up and headed up Tinton Rd. to shoot some video at the Tinton Trail Head. Tyson and I then headed out for a little spin and then we lined up. I lined up in the front, next to Tom Hurl Everstone and Mark Savery. I was so stoked for the race to begin, it’s all I’ve been thinking about and waiting for, all year. At the line I realized I forgot my tool bag. “WTF!!! What to do?” Well, I decided I would just go out on a suicide mission. Thoughts were going through my head, due to the fact that I flatted twice last year. I did have a spare tube in my jersey pocket. But, nothing to fill it with. Oh well, I’ll just pray to the Single-Track Gods, maybe they’ll help me through the 50 miles, of pure radness.

The race was lead out by Perry and Kristi on a four wheeler. I stayed close to the front and ended up in front for few and looked around to see who was around me, just geared riders, I gave way to them and looked for other single-speed riders and got dropped like no ones business up Hill Street to Tinton Rd. Riding up Tinton Road I saw Tom McDonald and rode behind him till just about Big Hill (Aid Station 1). After that, I never saw him again. I rode thru and busted on to Old Baldy Trail Head (Aid Station 2). There they were, my support crew was there waiting. I grabbed two bottles and a quick kiss and I was off feeling good still. I past Aid Station 3 and tried climbing out, but had to hike-a-bike. I looked back and saw Josh from Angry Catfish grinding up the hill. I told him he made it look easy, “it’s not” he said, as he rode away. My legs started cramping a little, but I just rode it out and kept on going. I got to Aid Station 4 and rode through and started the long climb up to the Bacon Station. The new route up is really sweet, and steep in parts. Finally at the Bacon Station. Music was thumping and there was my support crew, again. I just kept going and was excited to ride the Dakota Ridge again. Heading back to the Tinton Trail was ultra fast and pretty dusty. I got past by two single-speed riders and someone from Behind Bars on a geared bike on Tinton Trail. Once out on Tinton Road and the way down to the start/finish I past both single-speed riders and the guy from Behind Bars. But got passed by the geared rider at the amphitheater parking-lot. I could hear the cheering on the streets and was so stoked I made it back with no issues. The single-track gods came through for me. I finished in 4:50 and took 13th in the Men’s Single-Speed class. Took 40 minutes off last years finish.

The stellar day was not over.  We had to give a shout out to Jake Kirkpatrick (riding his sick Black Sheep bike) that took 1st place in Men’s Single-Speed and of course Dejay Birtch, Rider for Niner, who pulled in 3rd place in our Men’s Single-Speed class.  Renee poured a glass of vino, grabbed the 29nSNGL* swag and headed to our camping neighbors to officially congratulate them for their stellar spin out there then handed off some of our gear.I can tell you that the cozies were the sweatiest thing both Dejay and Jake had seen. She took the pic and then had to test the cozies to see, if in fact, it would stay attached to the vehicle as we promised them.  The cold ones came out of the cooler, put into the cozies, attached to the car, and the rest is history.

A big thanks to Perry and the Ridge Riders of the Black Hills for the beautiful work on the trails and to all the wonderful volunteers and spectators. You guys rock!!! I heard Perry say “The further you go, the better it gets.” I don’t think it could be said, any better.

Already looking forward to next year. Minneapolis needs to represent like Nebraska. So get the fam packed up and head out to the Five-O next year. No excuses. I missed my fellow team mates and it would be good to see H-Wood at Five-O. Next year kids, next year!

So much for being pithy, I guess.

The Races

Racing is fun, Buck was great, check out the pics.

You didn’t shoot thousands of pucks in your basement to never have an opportunity to score the winning goal in OT.  You didn’t spend hours draining free throws in your driveway to never have the pressure on you at the line during gametime.  You didn’t spend hours on the guitar in your room to never get together with buddies to jam in the garage.  Well, we don’t spend hours on county roads, laps on the dirt, or time on the trainer to never line up for a bike race.  For a few years my time in the saddle consisted of weekend warrior work, some fartin’ around on MTB trails, and urban assaults.  They were great group rides where we challenged each other and had some competitive undertones.  In retrospect, I think I was nervous to sign up for an actual race.  Wait, I don’t think I was nervous to, I just was.

It all changed when a good friend of mine (now brother-in-law and fellow 29nSNGL* crone) signed us both up for the Lifetime Triathlon.  In terms of the race world, this was Baptism by fire.  The transition zone was filled with $10k rigs.  There was more carbon in those confines than in a NASA hangar.  World class cyclists, runners, swimmers… triathletes walked around in wetsuits that could pay for 3 months of my car.  We raced, felt pain, felt endorphins, signed up for more.  That day, we weren’t training or practicing but we were racing.

The Lifetime Triathlon is about the most commercial, big-event-style, endurance race in the state.  Yeah, it’s all cake-eaters… not your stereotypical scene for a member of 29nSNGL*.  We’re more in to PBR and fried food after a ride, not replenishing with protein and electrolytes.  We’re supposed to be riding big steel no-geared rigs because carbon geared jobs are for pussies.  Who gives a shit what the “scene” is or how the race is perceived.  That event is legit and it will kick your ass if you have the nuts to push it.

The most important thing my first race taught me was this:  race more.  Racing is addicting and our crew knows this.  We race crits aka spandex nascar.  We race mountain bikes.  We do 24-hour events.  And yes, we even do some triathlons.  When you were a kid, those big games were a chance for you to cash in on time spent practicing in the basement.  It was no NHL game, but it was important to us.  These races we do today aren’t tours of California or France, but they serve as a venue that makes a 7 am Saturday morning headwind worth it.

Last nights race at Buck was, as usual, just like a terrible girlfriend.  Puts you through pain time and time again, but you leave knowing full well you’ll be back for more.  The course was much different, probably the best I’ve seen at Buck.

Long-ass entry:  Racing is fun, Buck was great, check out the pics.

Back to Basics

The latest installment of 29nSNGL* prose by KPF had my full attention and agreement.

I enjoyed the “back to bike basics” tone so I think I’ll follow suit for today. The topic is Buck and the subject, a biker’s nirvana. Last night was the all-encompassing illustration of the cycling lifestyle. A night of perfect weather and large crowd set the stage for what I’ve come to know Buck for.

The hill is a place that has mountain bike racing at its core but really is a family and friend event.  With music playing, a grill smoking and beer pouring, the families gather outside the chalet of this ski-hill transformed into a bike scene.  The little kids cheer on their parents, aunts, uncles and in some cases grandparents during the grueling frontside climb.  And after a few hot-laps and deserved beer, those same folks turn their attention to the little ones for the kids races.

The bikes range from old MTB born-agains to NASA inspired carbon jobs and each one of them are perfect.  The field?  It consists of the state’s top elite racers, desk jockeys that look like they have no business on a bike, everything between and the night accommodates each equally.

Are you getting the point yet?  There is no wrong way to bike, there are no age limits, there is no wrong body type here.  If you like biking you’ve met the one prerequisite.  Come on down and check it out.  This $10 race is a weekly grinder that looks like a mere bike race to drivers on I35 50 yards away but Thursday night at Buck is a microcosm that, when experienced, let’s you in on the subculture of cyclists.

Single Speed Outlaw’s Rise to Podium Prompts Visit From Petey the Pee Cup

With the dark cloud of performance-enhancing drug use hanging over the world of pro cycling and documented cases of doping in the amateur ranks popping up, we knew it would only be a matter of time before it landed smack dab in our backyard.

With the dark cloud of performance-enhancing drug use hanging over the world of pro cycling and documented cases of doping in the amateur ranks popping up, we knew it would only be a matter of time before it landed smack dab in our backyard. But who would’ve guessed that suspicions of foul play and allegations of doping were about to strike one of the 29nSNGL* crew?

You see this case involves the unlikeliest of suspects, our very own Amanda Hug-n-Kiss. Well after HNK’s meteoric rise from middle of the pack, Citizen Class racer to ass-kicking, podium crashing, dream crusher in the Single Speed Women’s class - the ol’ rumor mills started churning.