Console
Stock fronts, not that great of tires, still drivable.

Rears, snow tires in good condition. Staggered set up.

AC Schnitzer knob.

Miles.

6-disc
New K&N

Engine bay

Door ding

Door ding, have the jack caps...

Rear looks like no one has been in there ever.
All lights work, now.

A little spider webbing on the drivers seat.

Fender bump again.

Different angle.

^^ This is the dent on the front pass. side fender.^^
New foggies (new) and headlights (used).

With sunroof.

1998 Arctic Silver.

This is how our first races went. With a lack of high intensity training thusfar, I looked/felt like a fish out of water. Wifey was physically and mentally cracked, obviously.

We were both pleased with how the races went... considering. I was in a good place, closer to the goal anyway, during the first race until the pit got me and I straightened my bar so my fork was backerds. Second race was going well until I got my first flat ever while racing. The Small Block 8's hooked like mad, controlled drifts and all. B stated the newish Ziggy was a dream and can't wait for ski hill races for some reason.
Just a cool pic from our Icelandic friends. They enjoy powerlifting and strongperson competitions; starting youngsters early.
Silly snow in April. Was it May? Either way I bloc-ed out the white.
Next on the agenda for us: more slow training, a coupla summer classes for myself, planting oodles of plants, work ending for the year, a race in St. Croix Falls the day before everyone else does Afton and cuddling. Awwww.

Last post in Feb...?
Oh well, racing started, then stopped. Mechanicals both MNSCS #1: muddy pit of dispair got the best of me, screwing with my stem and Cable off Road Classic, flat at mi 19. Both were good learning experiences and the CAORC course was a fun one. I learned guys who pop from the lead group like to whistle when others pass them up. Shady behavior at best. More impetus for me to do work.
My fitness at this time of year is coming along. At the Cable race I ended up behind people who's single track skills were less than mine because I could only grind and gut out all the hills/flats. My top end is planning on getting built for the later season races. Whatever though, killing oneself is fun however you do it right?
Becca and her fitness are coming along the same as mine. She can tempo til the tangerines are teriffic, but top end is lacking. She has moved up to expert for the MNSCS races and looks forward to the added challenge. The Ziggurat is her newest love and hardtail mtb's go with her attitude. Do work.
Pics up and coming, we really don't photo that much since we have phenomenal memories. The KENDA Small Block Eights are a great tire for most all conditions. They are like sandpaper. Twin Six stuff finally came and look forward to a real jersey to add to my Schrute Farms Beets jersey. Until later, with pics.

This is the 'right after I got my thumb caught in the garage door while it was opening' photo...
Seems to be coming along nicely after 3 weeks right?
These are Becca's new creations, she is one talented babe. You'll notice we've added a new Sponsor/Helper section to our blog as we are gaining allies in our atheletic endeavors. We thank those who are willing and able to help us out!

Becca is about to boil over as we are in the midst of winning a frame/fork/post combo which will lighten her bike up significantly. She has a hard ass for her hopefully new hard tail mtb. I don't know if my spine full of cockeyed discs could handle that pressure, unless of course I was on a BB. Stay warm and I'll try to keep Becca on the lower end of crazy as the mtb bidding comes to a close.

New ride! Eat it Chris.

Above is the look I thought I was giving during the MN state Cx race yesterday, sidways even. I gave it my all, had some fun, and think these 4 races were good for mountain bike training. Trained us to go faster, be more agressive and take the race by the sruff of the neck and shake it. During this recap of the race I'll print what song is playing on shuffle, right now, TV on the Radio.

Get to the venue a little before 10 to register and warm up, etc. Out the car and brrrrrrr... a bit cool in the park they call basset creek. In the chalet type thing, a silver fox comments on my breathe right by saying, "we have BRs for sale at the end of the counter, oh wait, you already have yours on." What a great sarcastic comment, I appreciated it. Son Volt is on now. Regestered, bikes put together and ready for a recon lap. Being our 4th race on the cx circuit ever, we didn't know what to expect for the state race. Big Turkey gave us the low down, but things apparently change in the hands of Hollywoods crew. Fun course; stair run up, power climb, sorta techy switchback downhill, long bumpy head windy sections, et. all. Pink Floyd, Pigs now. Becca to the course to continue the process of bringing blood to the extremities, Nate to the car to get out of the wind. In laws come, Beck. Ready for the C start at 11. Cold. Windy. Should have rode more outside to get the breathers conditioned. Too late now. Whistle blast and Becca is off. She'll say more on her race later, with podium results?!?!?!!?!?

Nate back to the car to try to warm up, not really into it as friends poke their heads out. 11:20am getting ready for a 11:45 start. Had to stop and chat with Bob Brown, Barry and Ali and the call of nature. 311. After looking like I was warming up, time to be at the start line. CX races are weird to me because we just sit at the line, don't start on time, and bide our time before frost bite starts. Whatever. Start: people flailing on the smallest of hills, grabbing gears, searching for wheels, wondering how grav hills could be so tough. I stood up and sucked in air deep knowing I'd go into my reserves during these 35min of chaos. Pete Yorn. I'd pick up guys here and there, try to suck on their wheels on the straights and out corner them everywhere else. Some would come by as I didn't have it on the flats for some silly reason. I thought my barriers were sweet until this happened

in an altercation with my pedal on a remount. Didn't hurt until the finish. Regardless, the penultimate lap came sooner than I thought, counter had 3 and I guess there were 2. Okay, time to go. I caught some guy in a Superior jersey, some other dude and had my blurry eyes on (Wilco) a Tonka dude who had blown by me like I was a chubby 5th grader a couple laps prior. Last lap burst was not enough as he held me off by 5 seconds or so. Proud of myself for bringing him back from about 30-40sec though. All in all, fun lap, almost as good as Porkchop, but not quite! I'd like to do the pro thing and thank my sponsors and supporters for this great year of challenging myself to the limits of sanity. Radiohead now. Shout out to My wife #22, Schrute Farms Beets, In laws, bikes with wheels and chains, food, water, beds, stretching, intervals, other blogs to instigate more training, and cheering sections (Cloud crew, Rebecca and Lonie, Bob and Beth, Barry and Ali, Rick, Jo and Erica). Bright Eyes. Postal Service. Good bye for now, Becca is up next with her recap of the days events. Phish. Mountain Goats. Thanks to Skinnyski for this:

"Oh what do we have here, in the middle of the trail, at Crow Hassen Park Reserve?"
Yes!!! It is a big pile of crap!! Must be mountain bikers because they tear the stuff out of and poop right on trail, unlike our equine friends and their (stereotypically) snooty owners. What I didn't take pics of was the Ore2Shore-ish sand pits where the horseys left their hoof marks, after walking no less! I guess a winding ribbon of sustainable 18-24in wide singletrack is too destructive. More evidence that our Amurica is not suitable for two wheels, unless those 2 wheels are on a Hummer that is taking an exit ramp too quickly.
Lets just look at these works of art instead of looking at crap.

Next up for us: Our 1st CX double. We are excited to kill ourselves twice. As of now, Sat looks chilly and rainy, could be epic. As epic as a 45 and 30min race can get I guess...