The ships set sail to Crystal, MN Saturday the 16th of November. Destination.... Mn state cross championship. With The Great making an appearance in spirit (see pic), the whole SPH team was ready for domination*.

The course- stupidly long with a 3 barrier run up, followed up with a 30 step staircase, flooded with goose turds!

At chime of 11 o'clock SPH'ers were off with Little-Lar packing a punch the crew finished with respectable finishes. The second race being the SS state championship... ex-member of the ship finished up in a strong second, behind a dominating Ez Taylor (Kenwood Cycles).

Happy to be done for the day and year it's off to the trainer. See you next year!

* Domination- Showing up, riding, and not getting dead last.

Blackbeard domination!

Watching from the sideline with the soon to be Mrs., we watched the dominating pedal power from Ole Blackbeard. The course ranging from soft grass, to gravel roads, to one nasty run up. On this day hopping off the bike and running was where it was for Black. When he dismounted the steed, it looked like everyone else was standing still. Passing up to seven people at a time. Coming in at what I believed to be his best finish in a cross race!

Right along side Black was Lar-dag and Little Lar. Conquering their first cross race. LL with a bike weighing more than he does, proved himself to be the coolest little guy I know. Lar-dag following up with a broken saddle that took him out of contention.

Next race hopes to see a bit more of the SPH crew... I better check to see where to set sail.

SPH at the cross races '08 part 2 - Racing in Hudson???

Round two of the SPH cross season (I think it's like round 8 for those who race twice every weekend) landed the crew at the Hudson YMCA. Lots of 180 degree corners, off camber riding, and one fun little maze section were the name of the game.

Big props to Turkey Creek for showing up to cheer!! Even though we suck at cross racing every cheer helps! Get a cross bike and get out there Kate!

Toeing the line for the orange and green were the soon to be shaven Scraggs and the never to be fully shaven Blackbeard. Once again the strategy of the day (at least for Blackbeard) was to sit back at the start and then pick through people. While this makes for a less stressful day, it does make the first lap a bit of a snoozer. Maybe, just maybe one of these times I'll try and stick my nose in the middle of the pack or something. Eh... maybe not. I did hold off the women for most of the race though. Which was a bit of a win I guess.

Where were the Asian Express and Red Beard? Perhaps they were trying to keep up with the accessorizing of last week by Scraggs. Who knows.

Next week? Afton on Saturday and maybe, just MAYBE some racing on Sunday too.

SPH at the cross races '08 part 1

The new ship (aka Job's car) made the voyage up to Theodore Wirth Park and the first year of the Theodore Wirth Park Cross Race. The Asian Express and Blackbeard were the lone SPHers to make the trip as "the Red" was out of town, ole Scraggs was being fitted for his new skirt, and Supa Dave has turned in his orange and green (we won't kick Dave out, but if we happen to stick a tire iron in the spokes... eh), racing for Grumpy's.

The course was made for a mountain biker. Not loaded with rocks and log piles, but adding any bits of singletrack seem to make roadies cringe. And this course had some sweet flowy singletrack.

Of course, we sucked. Which is fine. We also had a blast. The new SS cross machine worked awesome and the green and white Salsa was also sweet for Jobber. The brakes are a bit squeaky, but no worse than lots of other guys.

No team photos from the event, but a covert operative did catch Scraggs in the act of purse shopping. Remember don't wear white after Labor Day.

Eric the Red is victorious!!!

In a muddy, rain shortened race, Eric destroyed all other SPHers (who couldn't even finish) at the third annual U of M XC race. In the process he also took 2nd in the Expert race. Don't ask how many people actually finished.

Nice job Eric! The traveling SPH trophy resides with you (once we make one).

Next week it begins..... I think

Have an hour and a half to kill?

Fat Tire Fest!

Eric and I headed up to Cable for the big 40 miler at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Fest a couple of weeks ago. Eric with a man's gear of 34-16 and his new (as in not for sale yet) Salsa 29er, me with my standard 34-18 Waltworks Eno-ified. I think we were both pretty happy with how our races went. Maybe me more-so as I was the top SPHer at 3:20 or something like it.

Some highlights for me of the race weekend:

- hanging out with Norma, Katie, Lars and Eric
- getting to the start area with about 10 minutes to spare. Looks like we'll have tons of people to pass.
- Katie and Nora's water bottle hand-up about halfway through. THAT HELPED SO MUCH!
- "SON OF A #&$%@!!" as I passed Eric on a hill
- the lovely sound of gears and chains and cassettes popping and cracking after a couple hours of damp sandy goodness
- feeling like a superman as I passed tons of geared riders every hill... seriously... is the granny gear that necessary???

One thing I learned: I either I'm a freaking beast (doubtful) or I need to get a clue about how to maintain my drivetrain. Tally after the big puddles of the 40? New Bottom Bracket, New Freewheel, new hub.

NEXT YEAR: Utter domination of at least 20 more people!!!