just rolling along

Pictures by Sam and Guy.


Another week in the books.  Nothing really interesting happened except that it was another busy weekend at the barn racing the little bikes.  On Saturday Fixxie and I headed to the track and I raced the cruiser and 20 inch bikes.  I took a 2nd in the cruiser and then a 4th in the 20 inch.  got home late and then flipped it back and was at the track again for the State Qualifier race.  I took another 2nd place in the cruiser and a 1st place in the 20 inch race.  As always it was fun racing and hanging with the bmx family.

This weekend I am heading to the Cyclocross World Championships in Louisville Kentucky.  Lenny contacted me and a bunch of us are loading the Excursion and heading down to catch some of the best racing here in the USA.  It should be a good time and the racing should be over the top and fun.  We did get a VIP pass s we can have some front row seats with food and beer.  Can't wait.  I will get a ton of pictures.  Other then that it business as usual.  Later..

Barn Burner

Awesome pictures taken by Sam Gillis.

Today was another fun day of racing at the Walworth bmx track.  I raced the cruiser and the 20 inch again with luck I missed the crashes and made both mains.  In the cruiser I took a 3rd place and on the 20 inch I was able to pull a 4th place out with a full rack.  Fun racing the little bikes inside on a cold day outside.  See you at gate practice on Wednesday.  Thanks for the pictures again Sam.  Later..

Cyclocross Nationals

Nate raced last weekend at the cyclocross National Championships.  He had a good start and was moving up and then slid out on the down hill and as he got up another racer ran into his rear derailer.  That jacked his bike up and he had to run for 1/2 a lap to get to the pits for his b bike.  But his race was over by then and he raced as hard as he could till he got pulled. Disappointing for sure but he kept his head up and supported his team and cheered as they raced past.  Well the end result was achieved as Marian University won the USAC Cyclocross Collegiate National Championships. It was fun being able to watch him race and hopefully we get the chance to cheer Nate and Marian University at more races.  Congrats to all the Marian University racers and the awesome job that they did over the weekend.  Later..

Cyclocross Nationals day 1

Today was a long cold, muddy day at the USAC Cyclocross National Championships.  I got up early and was able to get there by 8:00 to help a few of the ISCorp racers that were racing today.  I took care of Garrett's B bike and with the help of Chris, Jose and Matt we were able to keep Jose and Garrett on clean bikes each 1/2 lap.  Man was it muddy out there.  But Josey was able to pull out a 6th place finish and Garrett a 28th place.  Then I was able to take a little break and talk to Heather and her Dad before going back into the pits to help Max.  He then returned the favor by getting a 19th.  They all raced great and it was a blast helping today.  I then was able to talk and help Nate's coaches as they were done with their women racers and U23 so they were helping a friend of theirs by pitting for him.  What a great day playing in the mud.  The highlight was that Katie won the D1 women's race today with Coryn taking 5th along with the lead in the omnium for the D1 collegiate National Championships.  Also 2 of Nate's team mates Drew and Josh raced the U23 race.  Drew took 2nd and Josh 5th.  Nate races tomorrow at 10:30 in the D1 mens race.  With the freezing tempos tonight it should make the course crazy tomorrow even though they tried to smooth out alot of the ruts caused by the racing today.  But we are heading out early and watching the races all day awards at the end of the day too.  See you at the races.  Later..

USAC Collegiate Cyclocross National Championships

This weekend is the USAC Collegiate Cyclocross National Championships.  The are in Verona Wisconsin so it is going to be great to have the chance to go and watch Nate race this year.  He races on Sunday at 10:30 in the Division 1 championship race.  He is feeling pretty good on the bike and after his races last weekend he seems to be finding his form again.  http://www.usacycling.org/schedule/2013-3  The crazy thing about all the chatter that there would be a couple feet of snow and cold.  Well last year the same thing happened and the snow melted and then froze and the ground was all messed up with ruts and ice.  The same thing is happening this year and it looks like it is going to be a muddy icy hard race as the temps are supposed to be only a high of 20 on Sunday and really I think the course will as it is will not be ride-able.   But we will have to see.  Nate left today to go there to meet his coach and team and spend the rest of the weekend with them.  He also leaves after his races to go back to school so last night was his last night home for awhile.

Nothing really new except that the bruising from the fall down the stairs 4 weeks ago is almost gone and the leg is doing a lot better.  The leg is still alittle stiff in the mornings and after working all day but is is doing ton better and I am feeling better every time I am on the bike.  Well see you at the races.

Rolling on the kids bikes

Pictures by Sam Gillis and Guy Cox.

Raced yesterday at the barn and as always it was a fun filled day on the kids bikes.  Nothing like old guys acting like little kids and having fun doing it.  I went there by myself as Maddie had a bunch of homework to do and she stayed home to get it done.  I raced both the cruiser and 20 inch again and even though the leg was a little tight and stiff still from the fall down the stairs 3 weeks ago.  Most of the bruising has gone away but there is still alot of stiffness as the hematoma is still pretty large but I think it is going away but since I see it everyday I don't know anymore.  But back to the racing and I made both mains and was in the lead in the cruiser but Jerry took a low high on me again in turn 2 and I ended up taking 2nd again in the cruiser race.  In the 20 inch race I was in the mix into the first turn but there was 6 of us going for a few spots and still healing and not really wanting to crash I tapped out and rolled in for 6th.  But as I say it is always a good day on the bike and racing a bunch of old guys on kids bikes.

Nate raced cyclocross over the weekend on Chicago.   Saturday Nate had a last row call up and there was a ton of racers and he moved his way up and got up to 36th.   I asked him how it was but all he said was I tried to move up but it was hard and he did his best. Then on Sunday he got a better call up and was able to connect to the back of the lead group but  few of the guys rolled off the back up a hill he Nate couldn't get around them so he just settled in with a group and they worked together until the last lap and Nate attacked them up a hill and rolled in for 10th.  Good racing before the Collegiate Cyclocross National Championships this weekend in Madison.  Can't wait to go and watch all the races this weekend.   Other then that nothing new.  Later..

Just riding and chill'n

Maddie and Kaitlyn in the gate.

Maddie flying by Wednesday.

Fixxie hogging the heat.

Fixxie has a spot in the bedroom where the heat vent is and sits there almost eveytime the heat kicks on.

We have been riding the little bikes and relaxing with the short work week.  We hit gate practice on Wednesday and then I had a retirement gathering for a coworker that retired last night before heading to Racine for a team meeting and a few beers.  Then today it was get the bikes ready for some racing tomorrow at the barn.  Other then that nothing new here I guess.  Later..