Trifecta of race coverage.

Is been a while for ole Scraggs to post, so long that I no longer have any scragg on me!

With the crap-shoot aka Afton out of the way, the ship sailed half crew the Houghton, MI. With better than usual finished we were happy to head to CB's forecastle for some firework fun!

Next to Mt Kato for the Bluff Riders Charge. The RW crew showed some pride with three podium finishes. We could of had a fourth, Ole Blackbead had a misfourtune of a broken chain on the first climb instantly loosing a bit of time, a big yarrrrgh for him!

Kit is ordered the season is underway!

So... the kit is finally ordered (ummm... to be delivered hopefully before the Red Wing race....) and everything is heating up race wise....

The mountain bike season officially started with most of the crew embarking on some dizzying laps of Salem Hills up in Inver Grove Heights for the Spring Cup. It was COMPS all around (other than Eric who had to be someplace so he did citizen). Elliott, Isaac, and Larry all finished with aplomb, but ole Scraggs had some issues with his recently returned bike and DNFed. Oh well.

Next up was Afton where Scraggs dominated the clydesdale field and Larry didn't do too bad. Eric and Isaac finished the Sport race with what could maybe be described as smiles on their faces... but as always at Afton have vowed to never race there again.... 

Next up for some of the crew - Chaindrive.... UGH!

2009 Team Kit

YO HO HO and a bottle of crappy tasting Boone's Farm! The 2009 racing season is slowly creeping up on us and lo and behold look what fell out of Davey Jones's Locker?

Yep it's the new team kit designs (still to be finalized):

So that's the jersey design... pretty sweet ain't it? And the shorts are pretty keen too.....

And of course... no team kit would be complete without socks! BAM!

If you are on the team (or a ummmm... really cool?) let me know what you want to order... we'll be getting some jerseys, bib shorts, skinsuits for cross and maybe a vest or two. Once we get ten of one item the sky is the limit for odd articles of actual clothing that you can get. See Champion Systems's website for prices and details.

Happy New Year!

This is how we bring it in!

More coverage from the State Champs

Blackbeard checking in again... the official 'cross season has come and gone. No big wins by the SPH crew, but some fun was had. As was the case last year, many of the SPH crew wish that they had made it out to more races. But, alas it wasn't meant to be. One week after not reading a race flyer and missing the VeloCX, Blackbeard loaded up his car with Lar, Little Lar, and Job in tow. Jake and Big Huot followed. That's right... 5 of the 6 SPHers were fired up to represent. (Little Lar, aka Marcus, aka Pierre is part of the team SS or not).

The temps were around freezing, but the sun made it seem at least 5 degrees warmer. Luckily the wind made it seem about 7 degrees cooler, so it was cold. Isaac almost wore a winter hat cold.

The first race started out dumb as always... way in the back and wondering what the heck I am doing. Running through the sand pit the first time left me falling off the back of the main pack. Not a big deal, as I'm not main pack material. As I started to wind up the legs I slowly started to pick people off. Riding through the sand pit helped in this quest, though I would pay for it in the second race. The first race ended with Jake in the top 25 or so, me in the top 50, Larry top 75, Job and Pierre were top 100. Not too shabby!


There was about 5 minutes between when the first race ended and when we had to be lined up for the second race. Whoops. What am I doing? The plan was survive as long as possible. As the race started the fast guys (and they were fast) pulled away like they were on motor bikes. The slower crew though started to settle into a nice pace. Not sure how I did, but anytime I almost don't get lapped in a 45 minute race (heck, I'm happy when it's a 30 minute race and I don't get lapped) I'm a happy SPHer.

Highlights of the race were: the sand pit... it was fun powering into and through that thing. The stair hill climb was also "fun". Anything that brutal is fun in my book. What didn't I like? The long straightaways (that doesn't seem like cross to me) pretty much were it. Everything else was sweet.


Next year I'll be racing Bs. And might try to do well. We'll see if I can actually train and mountain bike race (new bike... that is way too nice for this cat).

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.