ICEMAN 2010...

ICEMAN 2010
6th wave was way cold in the early morning I had to ride back to the hotel before the start and put on my subzero gloves with one more big white base layer and face mask. The early morning waves got to ride real ice on the roads and single track going up hill was slick ice same going down. I was riding in the top 10 in my group...people were getting pretty side ways going down hill and some went down. Almost halfway on the single track someone yelled ROOT as I heard that I had hit it pretty hard and set me off the track.
As I went to get back on the course I noticed my chain had fallen off... the 1X9 set up I was running all year and never came off before...It was a freak thing so I tried to put back on by trying to ram it through the Paul chain guide... after a few good tries I had to get the tools out "Bummer" people were flying by and so were the minutes. My Paul chain guide allen bolt was mounted so close to my frame I couldn't get the wrench into that angle to loosen it...I was about to give up when I caught a bit of the inside of head and it turned! I put the chain on then it was time to tighten the bolt which took as long as it did to loosen. All in all it took me 13 min to fix and get back into the race. I now have in my tool kit a small "L" shaped 5 wrench. I don't think anyone passed me after that I was on a mission to kill or be killed. I went down once on some ice but jumped back on just as fast. I ended up 17th 2:13:42. I was bummed about the mechanical I had...But rode good... felt strong and there is always next year:-) I got to meet Gary Fisher on his 60th birthday. Thanks to Activator Cycles and T6.

River Trail...

Rode 47 miles on the DPR got stung by a bee on my right temple.

Chequamegon 2010...

A little late for this race report...but here it is... short and sweet... The start off I and my friend Nate were about 400 behind the preferred start racers...clocking myself at 29 mph a bit after the roll out...heart rate at 199... I pulled back a bit till Rosie's field... started to pass lots of riders...rode with a couple T6 dudes most of the race and a pro chick that got ether 3rd or 4th overall...legs felt slow but i was riding good...I found myself pulling long groups of riders down the real long straights. Almost rode all of the fire tower except the beginning where i had to bail to avoid some walkers and then proceeded to climb the rest. Didn't have the punch i was wanting...But was satisfied with my time of 02:40:13... Overall 203 out of 1814. Next race coming soon;)

O2S 2010

Ore to Shore was great race this past weekend! It was my first time to race the "O2S" and my goal was to finish in under 3hrs. It's a 47 mile cross country race from point to point. The course has everything a mtb racer could ask for. Single track,sand pits,long climbs,stair steps,small fun rollers,long steep rocky hills you can't climb on your bike,roads paved and unpaved,giant long puddles,bridge crossings,and screaming down hill sections. My time was 2:59...I was 115th out of 669 finishers. I was happy with that:) I recommend this race to everyone. My good friend Nate got 91st...Good job!

Activator Cycles...

Took a break to open a new bike shop in Lake Bluff IL!!! www.activatorcycles.com Lots of night riding going on...kettle and just rode at Crystal Ridge for a pre-ride for next weeks WORS race. Hope I can hang on next week???

Big Ring Classic Wausau 2010...

By Nick Christofalos,

Race day was hot and way dusty. No call up put mid pack at the start...the first mile and a half was a complete dust bowl trying to pass wasn't easy. The hill's were grueling and long. The rock gardens were hard if you had traffic...Super long straights... I had some good battles on and off with different packs of riders and went down once cause of someone getting caught up in a rock garden...My endurance was strong on the climbs... My favorite part of the race was toward the end when I got lapped by the pro's with only the last section of dusty corners in the woods and two long ass straights... I felt their momentum as they pulled me all the way to the first straight then started to pull way quickly for their awesome finish and mine to of course. Even if this was most difficult ride so far this year it was worth every bit of pain. T6 everywhere!

COMP 64 overall... Age group 6th place...

Time 2:00:41.9 back 15:45. Twin Six/Higher Gear

IOLA 2010...

Preride was fast...camping was good...Hanging out with good friends and my daughter was really fun. The race was fast and hard and painful at times. 7th place in the "comp" age group out of 17. And 68th out of 128 overall. Twin six jersey gave me more super power!