Jay’s Report!
Jays weekly mountain bike report on SkinnySki.
Congrats to the SamO, Brendan Moore, Chris Fischer , and Ben Moore team on the Win at the Salsa 2-4. One of many awesome Minnesota events.
I am super bummed on missing the upcoming MNSCS Laddies Loppet Stage Race this coming weekend. Last year, my dad and both sisters raced all three races and it was an unforgetable weekend. The best part was when my sister Kate beat my dad in the STXC! Thinking of Kate, I miss her amazing baking and charisma.
Pre Race Activities
There is a really cool pump track at the venue. I cant wait to try it out after the race.
Mitch Hoke! He is my roommate and an awesome guy. We found a really cool water hole to cool off in. He goes to school at Colorado College and races for Tokyo Joes and Clif Bar for cyclocross.
Making Adam Craig work hard to get up the hill! Spencer Paxton is the other rider in the USA kit. Spence works forty hour weeks for a wind energy company and still managed to make the Worlds team as an Elite racer.
This bike was outside the Sram tent. One of the first full suspension bikes with grip shift. The SRAM guys are awesome and have the best technical support in the industry. I am not sram sponsored, but every time I have gone to them for assistance be it on the phone or in person I have been treated very well.
Me and Skyler Trujillo in front of the Parliment building in Quebec for opening ceremonies. Each team got to walk down the parliment steps in front of crowds while their countries flag was shown on the building.
One of the features on the cross country course!
This is what happens where there is a balcony in the room!
Spencer Paxton from Seatlle with a "tacoed" wheel.
"Rock Waterfall" section of the cross country course.
Here is me loving the cool down.
Windham World Cup, NY
Thank you to everyone that has helped me get here. You will be recognized and individually thanked.
Today was not a normal World Cup field. There was about half as many people as normal. My start number was 114, but because of people missing, I started around the 90′s. The biggest treat of the day was getting to ride on a new wheelset. The Reynolds MTN tubular wheelset. I have never ridden a stiffer, lighter wheel. It was alot of fun.
I felt very good for the first three of six laps. As I started the fourth lap, I lost some snap on the climbs, where I was making up most of my time previously. I was very fourtunate to be riding on the Reynolds tubulars as several riders flatted on the sharp, slate rocks. Being extremely flat resistant is one of the advantages of tubulars.
As I came around to start my fifth lap, a uci official stepped out into the trail where the 80% cut off rule was. There was two riders about three seconds ahead of me and they got through, but I was the first to miss the one lap to go cut off.
Aside from getting pulled, I was pleased to be the 3rd U23 american. I was also happy to have did one long climb with Adam Craig as he chased back from having a flat. Lastly, I had a ton of fun on the descents. It made the climbing worth it!
Kerry and I before the Start. Kerry cracked his third 29er frame this season before the race and ended up racing a dually 26er.
The condo we are staying in is dedicated to a Fireman that lost his life saving others in the September 11, 2001 hijacking.
Before I left for New York, I was staying with my good friend Lars in Durango. We decided that hammocking would be a relaxing activity. Nope! Lars ended up falling from about four feet high onto a sharp rock bench onto his back. Heal up Lars. Get ready to TRAIN when I get back!
A picture of me and my loaded TACO before I left for Durango! Packing list was two bikes, fly rod, roller skis, cooler full of tires, toolbox, sleeping bag, thermarest, dads homemade granola, all my chamois and a duffle full of clothes.
MN to CO
The last two weeks have flown by.
I will start off with a funny training story. If anyone is familiar with Dell Road in Eden Prairie there is a nice climb. It is about 75 seconds then dips and climbs again for another 75 seconds. At the top of the first pitch there is a driveway that extends the first climb about 20 seconds. Perfect! I was planning on doing some 90 second intervals and the private driveway would be just enough to make a full 90 seconds of climbing.
After my first set of four, I took a ten minute break. I then proceeded to do another three before the owner of the driveway came out screaming that there had already been four of us up her driveway in the last few minutes. I tried to calmly explain to her that I only had one more interval.
Apparently I set off the alarm everytime I went onto her property and she was not thrilled.
For a going away dinner, I had a few friends that I have been fortunate to meet though racing come over. It was alot of fun, my dad set off the potatoe gun and grilled some awesome trout.
Everyone who came over would agree that Rebecca Suaber makes the best salads!
The next morning I left for Boulder. I made it in about 14 hours. My mom and sister annie were conveniently on vacation there so I had a place to stay the night.
My sister annie is 13. She has an awesome perspective on life. She texted me about what Boulder was like. Maybe you will think it is as funny as I do.
HAHA!
I stopped to see Piotr, John Munger, Craig Ruud, and Bill in Breckenridge. They are taking on the Breck Epic! Yesterday they did 9300 feet of climbing!
It was the craziest thing, I ran into Pat Dowling on a quiet mountain road in Breackenridge. Pat and his wife Kristi are racing the Breck Epic as well. Pat was super surprised to see me. Pat actually lived in Durango for a couple years and worked as a ski guide and a raft guide during the summer and mountain biked in his free time. Now he races mostly in MN and WI series races.
I made it to Durango safely and met up with Lars! We have been having a great time. Some of our activites include hammocking, river tubing, cliff jumping, roller skiing and off roading in the Tacoma. If you are not familiar with Durango, Toyota Tacomas are like gold here. You could make a business of buying in MN then selling in CO!
Cascade Waterslide. Cascade Creek has a series of about seven pools that you can jump into and swim to the next. Supposedly there is another set that only locals know about.
Weeeeee
This evening I am leaving for Windham, NY. I will update with some pictures of the WC course and venue!
Border Battle WORS vs. MNSCS
Yesterday I got to the Border Battle Race early for the First Timers Race. No I was not doing a warm up. I was there with the City of Lakes Loppet Foundation to help a few kids do their first mountain bike race. I had never met the kids before, but I thought it would be fun to help them out.
The City of Lakes Loppet Foundation took over the Trips for Kids which was formerly operated by QBP. They have a trailer full of mountain bikes that are lent to several kids to ride at Theodore Wirth trails.
After completing multiple training sessions put on by the Loppet Foundation, the kids were ready for their first mountain bike race. Of the about ten kids in the program, three were in town for the race. Their names were Rochelle, Charles and Wanaye.
The first thing I did after I met the guys was show them how to fill out registration forms and how to pin on their numbers. I explained what gear to be in on the start and what the Gel packets are used for. I tried to come up with some race tips, but all I could come up with was remember to drink.
The guys kicked some butt! They are ages 10- 14. For their respected age category they were all top five out of over fifteen racers. When they passed me on the trail, they were all hardly breathing. Imagine how fast they will be able to go when they can start to learn and push their limits.
After their race, I showed them the cookie “recovery” table and they were super stoked on that. Then I brought out the rollers and let them pedal while I supported them. Next, they wanted me to do some tricks so I showed them a couple little wheelies and bunny hops. Finally, we washed up the bikes and then they left with John Swain and Lewis who work for the Loppet Foundation.
Congrats on your first race guys, it was cool to watch you!
After some big time chatting I realized that my race start was less than twenty minutes away. I did a couple quick pick ups but then let the sun do the rest of my warm up for me.
On the first lap I lost the front group of about five or six. I could not match their speed in the muddy singletrack. On the second lap I hooked up with Sam O and as usual he showed off his singletrack skills. If you ever want to learn how to ride singletrack fast, watch Sam. One thing I notice is how calm he is on his bike. He shifts very little and is always in a relaxed position. On short climbs he loses no speed and his transition from standing to sitting is seamless.
As the trail started to dry, my super fast Xr1’s began to make up lost ground. I passed TJ near the fourth lap and I could tell the heat was getting to him. I ended up fourth and was very pleased with the race.
My mom was at the finish to greet me with a cold rag and watermelon. I almost forgot to mention that once again my mom did a super job with hand offs. Thanks mom!
WORS did an excellent job as always- the course was fun- a good mix of singletrack, one sustained climb and flowing singletrack. It was an awesome day!
