Guess that Group Ride…
It was eight degrees last Thursday night. I went through the day hoping the outside temperature might increase for a more comfortable evening ride. As ride time approached, I drove to the Minnesota River Bottoms in complete cycling wear excluding my helmet and goggles. Within five minutes of riding, the better part of the ten or so of us had already taken a dirt sample. More of an ice sample actually. The trail had its slick spots, but the four-inch wide Surly Nate’s were predictable and kept me mostly on two wheels. Being a first timer on this group ride, I am still not completely aware of the “point system.” I apparently scored a point upon attempting a “skinny”[1] and coming to rest with my bike on top of me in the bushes. Mr. Goat would not divulge the inner workings of the point system to me. Maybe another day I will learn the game…
If you have not figured it out yet, I went on my first LCR[2] River Bottoms group ride; it was cold, and awesome. The pace was energetic but still allowed plenty of time to test ones skills at each obstacle.
On paper the LCR team would look like an extreme sports team. The background of most of their riders is fascinating. They have elite- level Superbike Racers, body builders, an Olympic level ski jumper, countless motocross and hare- scramble racers and, even better, they all like hockey! I wouldn’t be surprised if some Red Bull stunts are based on inspiration from these guys.
[1] “Skinny”
-A ride-able surface which poses a challenge or inherent risk in successfully riding “the skinny” in entirety. A “skinnies” surface is of varying width, height, and distance off the ground. A “skinny” is often constructed of dimensional lumber or from a fallen tree.
[2] LCR
-Larson’s Cycle Racing is a do- all motorsports shop located in Cambridge, MN. They have dirt bikes, ATV’s, street bikes, side by sides, snowmobiles, and more. They stock everything you need to be on the trail tomorrow. Their service and sales staff is hands down the best in the Metro. LCR owner, Mike Larson, a mountain bike racer while not participating in Motorsports, sponsors the LCR mountain bike team.
Rest in Peace Packers. Giants 37, Packers 20 
My sister Kato taught me how to use her sewing machine last friday night. It was likely the most useful friday night I have ever had.
My dad on his new BMC Fourstroke FS02! He loves it and he seemed to have magically got faster on the full suspension 26er'.
My Oma and Opa took me out to eat at my favorite restaurant, Roat Osha. I decided to dress up the Stone Elephant in my clothes. The restaurant manager undressed the elephant upon seeing its outfit.
My dad helped me to wash my BMC bike fleet during the packers game.
Christmas in MPLS
Wake up, breakfast, ride to work, work, take the long route home through Lone Lake and hit the single-track, family dinner, watch history documentaries on apple TV, then fall asleep at ten pm. That is my daily routine in a nutshell. Santa was good to me this year; the Christmas highlight, however, was surely my mom being able to ride her new bike on Christmas morning. Seeing her ecstatic to be riding a quick handling and lightweight Trek 7.5 FX WSD set the tone for a great Christmas. Another highlight was my Great Grandfather’s pancakes. My Great Grandfather, a lawyer in the 60′s, offered his legal services free of charge to a highly toted chef who was in financial despair. In return, the chef shared his pancake recipe, which has become a Christmas tradition for my mom’s family ever since.
I had not seen my buddy Lars since last winter. He was in town from Bend so I picked him up at the airport. He stayed with my family for a couple nights. He took me skiing at Elm Creek where I reunited with Eric and SamO and saw the Hopkins Nordic Team at one of their conference races. Sarah Benton and Harris Dirnberger both juniors at Hopkins handily won their respective races. Coach Fuhr, Ari, Megan, Kos, and Zach are still the best out there for high school coaches and in the next two years I would not be surprised if both the girls and boys teams are on the podium at the State Meet.
Last but not least, the other best part of my christmas was seeing Peter Johnson on his new TTR90! There is a video below!
I am just waiting on snow to begin training with the Fat Bike... Never thought I would say that!
Kerry and I leaving Colorado together. K-dizy!!
December count down to Christmas at the Hinkens house.
A spinach Omelette that I spruced up a little bit. @Finsty.
Merry Christmas from BMC!
Tom Plotkin Memorial Hockey Game
Two Saturday nights ago, I had the honor of playing in the Tom Plotkin memorial hockey game. Hopkins graduates that had been on a team of Tom’s were invited to play. It was an emotional day and evening for many people including me. It had been three and a half years since I last suited up in full equipment; that was sophomore year of high school. I am trying to think of my last memory of Tom … It was probably him in the front seat, laughing, while Johnnie Hicks was doing donuts in the Pavilion parking lot on a snowy evening.
It is hard to shed light on a death of a teammate but on one hand it brought many people together. Tom’s brother gave a teary, but meaningful pre game speech. “Everyday is a gift.” I also remember he said, “If you love someone, don’t wait, tell them you love them.” The locker room became super hot as we watched video of Tom playing hockey and some pictures from high school. Matt Kallas and his dad made the video and pretty much set up the whole night with the help of Zuks and Emma Henke.
There is nowhere else I would have rather been that night. I skated as hard as I could for Tom. With the exception of Zuks, who is a professional referee and future NHL referee, I think all players were sore for a few days. Everyone wore number three.
RIP #3
It would be really cool to get an annual hockey game over the holidays to honor your short life.
Hockey stick salute to Tom.
I am number three...
We all signed Tom's jersey and it was presented to his family.
October Update
The cool mornings usually turn into beautiful days here. Whether it is thrift store shopping with Russell, or riding, the Springs is really a cool place. There is a lot going on in town, but with a ten-minute ride or drive you can be in calm of the mountains. Kalan, Russell, and Mitch showed me the Incline in Manitou Springs for the first time. The 5,000 steps climb 2,000 feet in 1.2 miles. My best time is 24;36 and it was painful. The record is 17 minutes.
With Kalan and his dogs.
James working his way up Crankcase Alley in Captain Jacks Trail.
Top of the Incline.
Getting ready to take out the 93' CR. It might not be pretty but it always starts.
James crossing a snowy bridge over Bear Creek.
Putting Leo and Finn to work!
Helmet Camera Overlook Trail Colorado Springs, CO
This video was taken yesterday. After climbing up Rampart Range Road for a while there is a cool view of Cascade- Chipita Park on Highway 24. You can also see Colorado Springs to the East. The trail is even better than the view. Russell was the one who introduced me to this trail. During my first ride here I absolutely was freaked out about the steepness and how fast Russell dropped me. This is Russell’s “favorite” trail. Wait… Every trail that is tremendously loose and goes down is Russell’s Favorite. In my opinion, the video does not give the trail’s technical nature justice.
Life with Finsty: Colorado Springs, CO
After Chequamegon, I spent two weeks at home. My family was so happy to have me back. Their enthusiasm was, in a small part, due to having me around to finish the downstairs bathroom project I started in June. Tiling and installing the toilet were the major priorities and I finally got it done. I learned to always consult my dad before buying anything. Seven times out of ten, he would have just what I needed somewhere in a cardboard box. Also, my mom is the one with the best taste for decorating, not me.
Leaving Minnesota was hard for me, but it was time to be back in Colorado. My family was sad, but understood. I can’t thank Finsty (Russell Finsterwald) and his family enough for treating me so well. Their house is very comfortable and I have my own room, a parking spot and an open work area inside the empty carport where Russell fixes and builds his bikes.
I arrived in Colorado Springs on Thursday the 6th. My drive began Tuesday afternoon. The decision to take the South Dakota route via Highway 90 proved longer but much more interesting than Highway 80 through Nebraska. I spent Tuesday night on a sleeping platform inside my truck bed at a Truck rest stop. Semi trucks produced a nice white noise and they blocked the early morning sun. It was not a deep sleep, but it was good. By late morning on Wednesday I was in Wall, SD. Wall is the home of Wall Drug. Several years ago I experienced Wall Drug with my some of my best friends: Doug, Austin, Gary, and Kay Anderson on a side trip during our annual Big Horn River fly fishing trip in Montana. Gary turned everything into a competition for us! Of the hundreds of Wall Drug signs while on route to Wall, Gary put up fifty cents to the first one to spot each sign. Some other examples of our competitions included jumping into the forty-six degree river, snagging carp with our bare hands or catching the first or largest trout each day. I remember ending the two-week trip with a year worth of memories, eighty-five dollars cash, a cowboy hat, and new love for black olives. Now, back to Wall Drug. I had my picture taken with a racy old west cowgirl statue eight or nine year ago. Wanting a current one, I asked a man to take a picture with my camera. Twenty miles down the road I quickly flipped through my pictures and found a blur. The main reason for my Wall Drug trip was fruitless. I still came away with some free ice water and twenty cents worth of five-cent cups of coffee. I spent Wednesday night in Fort Collins visiting with my friend John Deerhaug. His family moved to Colorado during 6th grade. We have kept in touch a little bit and it was awesome to see him doing well in school and loving college. I also saw Lucas Perez, a teammate during my semester racing for Fort Lewis College. By Thursday evening I was unpacked and settled in at Finsty’s house.
Finsty is leaving tomorrow for a five- day stage race in Malaysia. Malaysia is a British territory located in Southeast Asia. Hopefully Finsty remembers which side of the road to ride on. I recall the crazy British ways presented us quite a challenge while going on training rides at the Dalby Forest World Cup. If Finsty survives the nearly two days of travel, look out! He is coming off two recent wins at the twenty-four hour four man National Championships and the Palmer Park Fifty.
Now, I am going for a three-hour mountain bike ride with Russell, Kalan, and Danny.
The Hinkens car lot! I am the main problem.
Yogi on my bed. I miss her.
Oil filter removal with a ratcheting tie down. She(the oil filter) was awful tight.
Russell's room on an abnormally clean day.
USADA Test #1
Earlier this year, at Pan American Championships, I was selected as a random for drug testing. I went into the castle where the testing was to be had, and it turned out that the other random was chosen, not me. I was actually some what bummed as I feel it is an honor to be tested. To me, being tested usually means good results.
At U23 Nationals, I was chosen to be tested. It was a cold, but comfortable room. My teammate Stephen Ettinger and Robbie Squire accompanied me in the testing room. Robbie slammed six bottles of water. He is a pro at being tested, so I took his lead and tried to do the same. Gatorade was my choice of drink as I did not want to have an invalid test due to not having my urine within the range of specific gravity. After talking with the officials for a good forty-five minutes, I learned that there was a shower. I asked if I could take a warm shower. They said no problem, and the testing official watched me shower. Within seconds I was ready to urinate. My specific gravity was within range. I signed a couple things, sealed up my A and B sample and was on my way.
Nationals was July 17th. I recently received a letter recently to inform me that my sample was negative. Thats all!
Letter from USADA.
