Loving the Fattie!

So this is a picture from last fall when Steve-O and I were out riding sand bars on the Bay of Green....we could ride the sand bars but if we stopped our feet sunk into the sand....about 2-3 inches!

Fast forward...........

Today myself, Gary, Schindel of the other Flyers, Steve-O, and Fast Kelly went out an "Urban" fat bike ride.  We started out downtown GB and then hit a rec trail, thru Joannes and across the East River to Bairds Creek......we rode all the way from one end of the park to the other, sweet little ride thru the park.  I even got to look at some of the chutes we used to ride down.....wow....I would not even think of riding those these days......wait, yes I would :)

We ended up going from Bairds over to the UWGB trails, and then from there to the Bay.....out the Bay it took us all a little bit to get comfortable riding the ice....a few cracks but nothing too big at all.  After getting comfy out there and talking ourselves into believing it was safe to ride out there.....we put in close to 4 miles on the Bay!  Rode along ways out there and loved it.....one of the best parts of the day!

So the reason for the route and the Urban ride.....checking out a possible course for an Urban Fattie race!  Stay tuned as we work on this event, going to be a good time.....all agreed the course is great and will make a solid race course offering every type of terrain GB has to offer.

Have a good week.

Say NO to the trainer!

Just not going to happen for this guy....that dreaded trainer that sits in the basement and mocks you everytime you walk past it.....too bad for you trainer, I am going to ride the Pug OUTSIDE!  Put out a text to Steele and Steve-O.....Steele is in and we are hitting Duck Creek for a night ride on the ice.  Great ride and perfect conditions out there.....again hard to wipe the smiles off the faces when it is that much fun!

Last year we talked about how hard it was riding regular mtb's on the snow covered ice up there and that we should look at those fat bikes.....seems like they would be perfect out here?  They are.....oh yes they are!

Of course with the temps a little above normal you have to keep the eyes peeled for a few of these spots!  Easy to see and the creek is really not that deep....so let the fun continue!!!!

On another note.....had a physical last week, it had been close to 20 years for me.  Results of the lab work back today......I have pretty high levels of triglyceride?  Basically I need to eat better and watch what I toss down the ol' hopper.  So for the next 2 months I have eliminate dairy, red meat, and dammit anyway....sweets and sugars?  I am willing to do what it takes, I have to make sure I am here for the girls and if cutting those foods out means getting healthier....will do!  It does seem wierd that with all of the biking and things I do that I would have this issue?  Oh well, have to do what I have to do to take care of things!

Now get out and exercise and eat better....you can join me.

A taste of racing the Fattie!

So after our original plans fell thru with my family getting together for some waterpark and family fun (that will come soon I hope!), and what I thought was going to be some bad weather with that storm coming out of the Rockies....we decided to stick around Green Bay for the weekend.

With a Fat Bike race really close by and no snow moving it to the beach....and the sponsor being PBR, we dug up a team and headed to the lake shore Saturday morning for the Shelltrack Fat Bike relay Race.  A nice shorter course proved to be a nice little loop that gave us some good fattie fun for the afternoon.  I headed down with Steele, Schindel, and Davidson.....the winning combo as we found out?

Schindel and Davidson were the first two up, after falling behind at the start those two pulled the lead back little by little and on Schindel's last lap he passed the lead team.  Davidson took off and sea-sawed with that team eventually pulling ahead of them.  Next up Steele and I.....I took off and rode hard making sure they did not catch me!  Once I hit the spirally ramp I could look back down at the beach and saw no one, yesss!  Steele took over after my first two laps and increased our lead.......no one passed us and we held onto the lead for the WIN!

It was a hard battle because we thought they might always be coming up on us.....in the end they thought they won the race but when we finished our 20 laps (5 each)....we were the first team standing and waiting......so we were the first team with 20 laps and we secured the traveling trophy (around my neck)!

Had a good day and a lot of fun, met some new people on the Lake Shore, just a good time.  We did realize we dressed wrong?  Fattie races are not for the race gear and fancy outfits.....we needed our cut off jeans and ripped up flannels!  We have taken note and will dress properly next year....cause the trophy is a traveling trophy and we have to go back and defend!  Which I am sure we will do :)

After a nice day on the beach it is time to sleep in tomorrow, have to get together with my family soon as well.  Have a good week all and be Fat!

The new kit('s)......damn we look good!

That time of the year when we update the kits and start to get the orders in.....a process that seems to get me fired up and in the mood for the season to get here.  Pretty much the same look with a few minor changes and a couple of sponsor placement changes.  The one that we are really excited for is on the back of the jersey....PKS Kids.  We are sporting this in honor of Rob's daughter who is a PKS child herself....hopefully Airyn can make it to a couple of races :)

Oh...we now have a spine.....thanks Steele for the support of the team!

They asked for it......so here it is!  The pink version of the Flyers kit, love it!  I think the pink will be tweeked a touch but you get the idea.  A nice addition to the collection.....very cool!

Other than that just waiting for the snow to get here.....helloooo snow, it is winter.....helloooo?

The Fatties continue to be the way to go.....

Had a good number of the Flyers out last weekend constructing a new loop for you guessed it.....fat bikes!  A really nice loop that starts in the lower parking lot away from the ski trails, right around 2 miles for now with the hopes of more in the near future!  One nice thing is that we spent the morning making the trail just wide enough for the snowmobile and groomer, so when it gets beat up we can come through and tidy up the surface!  Stay tuned for the details....however it is open and rideable as of now, lower lot, northwest corner of the lot by the soda machine is where the trail starts.  Enjoy.

On my own Fattie, I decided that I needed just a touch more traction in the rear.  Going up a few smaller inclines at He Nis Ra I was constantly spinning out with the Endomorph, Steele had an extra Nate laying around after he decided not to stud a set.....so I bartered for one of them and I now have mucho traction back there.....sweet!  I am very excited to hit the new loop Sunday morning and see what it has to offer.

Ride it.

NYD (eve) Ride and the Cross Nationals Report

This year we had to do the New Years Day ride on the eve due to the Packer game on New Years Day....no big deal and the weather was great so the turnout was high!  Normally we average about 15-20 riders.....this year we hit the jackpot with 36!  We had a good tour of Green Bay and the surrounding area, may have went a little long but a great day and good times!  Love the tradition and hope the ride continues to grow, great fun!

Not every day or year that we get a National Champ event in our own backyard.....so with the Cyclocross Nationals just outside of Madison in the town of Verona, had to go!  So Steele and I drove down Wednesday morning and Davidson rode down with Q and Nate....so GB was represented on day 1.

My day almost ended as the start whistle blew?  On the way to the start line I started to hear my hub making a ton of noise trying to engage the pawls.....fast forward......on the whistle I could not get the bike to go?  I was only hitting 1 pawl every so often if felt like, not cool.  I limped it off the way back of the start knowing the pits were not far away (1/4 mile in), I had planned to bag the race and watch Steele in disapointment.  As I enter the pits ready to bag the race....the Shimano guy comes running towards me yelling, "hold your bike up......9 speed right?"  Hell yeah I felt pro.....a Dura-Ace rear wheel and off I go!

Spent the rest of lap 1 chasing the crew thinking I had a chance to chase back on....kind of blew up trying to make contact, I did manage to catch a few but nothing significant.  The fun part was taking a few more chances than I may normally have, one course marshall said to me on the 3rd time by that I was rocking that down hill section better than anyone, good thing he didn't know how scared I was a couple of times when my front wheel would slide out and somehow catch...loved it!  I was able to climb all the hills at a decent pace and the stair climb was ok...may have been the toughest part for me, but the rest of the course flowed well and was a good course!  May have have been better in snow?

Bottom line I take away from the day....a cool experience racing with the National Champ scaffolding, after getting the new wheel I still had a great time racing and felt really good on the bike, all that Fattie training I guess :)

Off-season.....or wait, fattie season.....give us some snow!

New Years Day Ride and looking ahead.....

A quick look at what could be the loop for this years New Years Day ride.....somewhat the same as years past.  One thing to keep in mind with the ride....it is a go no matter what the weather!  So show up or face a full year of heckling for sitting home in your warm pj's.  Dec. 31st at 9am from He-Nis-Ra Park on the west side of Green Bay.  All and any style of bike welcome, best bet is mountain or cx....or.....FATTIE!

Looking ahead to next season.....I am thinking since I sold anything 29er to get a fat bike (worth it for sure!)....and I have not sold the Epic 26, I am thinking I will just ride the smaller wheels on the Epic.  Kind of tired of trying to sell bikes to get new ones, I have a great road, cx, fat, and xc racer.....so I am happy with that and ready to roll with it.

As for the racing schedule....not really sure what to think right now?  I am thinking this may be a very light year on the racing front?  I will still hit the line for a handful of races, I do know for sure that it will not be the same number as years past.  Maybe the 20 years of racing have a little to do with it, I know financially I need a year (or 2) away from the high dollar races, some of the big races are just getting way to high in entry fees, almost pricing themselves out of the running.....but still you have sellouts so someone is willing to pay the high fees?

Another thing is the need and desire to just hang and be with family, racing is very demanding with the training, travel.....just a lot goes into the sport to make it fun and competitve on the weekends.  We'll see what the new season brings........?

Hmmmmm?  Half of course!