One for the ride

The 2009 Dirty Apple Alley Cat was a success. About 80 riders streamed out of triangle park to checkpoints across Manhattan.

The checkpoints included: Besting a fellow racer at Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat before proceeding; running through the isles of Hyvee to check the price of a case of Jones Soda; and taking a headshot, stomach shot or slap in the face...you choose.

Big thanks to Twhet and Thomas Krap for organizing this event, and thanks to the sponsors who supported it: Chrome Bags, Salsa Cycles, Surly Bikes, All-City, Velocity USA, El Duke Degreaser, Tallgrass Brewery and Chipotle.


Photos from the Dirty Apple can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedirtyapple/

This Friday, November 6

Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Triangle Park Manhattan, KS

What you can expect: According to race organizers Twhet and Thomas Krap, you can expect to hurt.

These guys have put a lot of work into this event. They've lined up a lot of great sponsors, including: Chrome Bags, Salsa Cycles, Surly Bikes, All-City, Velocity USA, El Duke Degreaser, Tallgrass Brewery and Chipotle.

There is going to be over $750 worth of prizes for those who compete!


Facebook event page

Details from the organizers:

1) In no way am I or anyone liable for your actions.
2) There will be fun.
3) Party afterwards featuring TERROR TRACTOR, DROPJAW, and maybe some more loud, live, awesome music.
4) The course map will be posted no sooner than 24hours before the race starts.
5) Pre-registration gets you a t-shirt $10; Day of $12 no shirt

Late breaking news from Twhet:

"Tomorrow, there is a race.
I rode what I thought was the fastest route yesterday, and clocked it at somewhere around 15-20miles, there are 9 checkpoints, and it took me about 1.5 hours to complete.
Meet tomorrow at triangle park, I recommend that you bring a helmet, light, lock, and pen with you. also, try to be there close to 7pm.. I know it doesn't start until 7:30pm, but try.
You should be prepared for fun, and lots of it!!! bring all of your friends.
I will post more details to the facebook event page tomorrow around noon, and I will also have them at The Pathfinder."

This year I joined forces with the Bike Magazine crew to do some Web / multimedia coverage of Interbike. I'm rather jaded when it comes to "latest and greatest" spiels, but very now and then a product catches my eye because it's innovative, makes life simpler, or makes me ask,"why didn't someone think of this sooner?"

Here are my top three products from the show.

Interbike Video: Pedro's New 8-bit Multi-tool—the Tulio from Bike Magazine on Vimeo.

Interbike Video: Exposure Lights from Bike Magazine on Vimeo.

Interbike Video: The new DT Swiss Tricon wheelset from Bike Magazine on Vimeo.

I've been remiss in my blogging duties this year.
Real life has taken precedence over E-living, and life has been good.

Cyclocross season is well underway. Cross starts earlier every year; I'd prefer the season to start in October and go through February. But as long as I'm racing, I'm not complaining.

My plan to race myself back into shape seems to be paying off. Every weekend I've been feeling stronger and have slowly been creeping my way up in the standings.

For some reason I've been riding like a squirrel — making little mistakes that cost me time — silly crashes, dropped chains and bad line choices. I'm hopeful that repetition through racing is the solution.

I spent the first weekend of the new year backpacking in Arkansas, Devil's Den to be exact.

I love winter camping. It's the only time I really get to use all the cool gear I've accumulated over the years — cold weather means I can sleep in my mummy bag, rather than spend the night sweating on top of it!

Jaime, my partner in crime, was up for exploring each and every cave and crevasse we came across. She's also one heck of a camp cook.

I'm planning a return trip soon. This time with my brothers and our bikes.

Any takers?

Cross season was long, painful and mostly dry — nationals and today's race were the exceptions. Boss Cross #3 was a fast course turned painful slog thanks to risings temps and melting snow.

A third of the course was faster on foot than on the bike.
Still a fun race, and a good way to end the season.

There are three more local 'cross races, but I'm burnt out. I'm ready to ride my bike in the woods, with friends, for fun.

Here are some shots of today's mudder, compliments of Roger Harrison.

Power washing is overrated.
Real men use the Missouri River to clean their bike, then jump in to clean themselves.

I've been absent from the interwebs for a few weeks, school is back with a vengeance. I've still managed to have fun on the bike though.
I headed to Manhattan last weekend and joined their monthly Critical Mass. They had a fairly good sized group. Those kids are much more civil than the rable-rousers here in Lawrence.



Saturday was Cruise the Blues, if you're not familiar with the race, it's a uniquely Kansas cycling event. Nestled in the middle of central Kansas is Doug and Tracey Palen's farm. In addition to being a farmer Doug is also a passionate mountain biker. He has created a network of fast flowy singletrack which meander through his fields and pastures. Dodging cornstalks and cow patties is part of the experience.

The race loop is approximately 13 miles of hardpacked goodness. The trail was not as buff as it has been in years past, thanks to a downpour the week before the race. Nothing five hours of racing can't remedy!

My teammate, Cycle City's very own John Waller, and I launched our assault on the men's five-hour "glory" field. I had a good first lap and John had an even better second. Unfortunately for me, the previous night's overindulgence in cheap beer and pulled-pork sandwiches would not be silenced — a counter-attack on my stomach was launched. I hurriedly exorcised the demons in the nearest johnny and just missed my teammate riding in. We lost some time but still managed to hold off third place. We went home with money in our pockets. Not a bad weekend. Congrats to the dynamic Chambers duo for taking home the big win!