'Voodoo Child'

My latest project. Piece-by-piece I'm going to build up a singlespeed mountain bike, and this is the first component - a Voodoo Bokor frame. Fork will be next. Should be a fun!

11th Annual Dakota Five-0

I find that I like this mt. bike racing stuff. That's not to say, by any means, that I dominate or finish near the top, because I don't. It's something much more. It gives me something to work towards, and when that time comes, I get a tremendous sense of accomplishment after experiencing what all the training helped me to achieve. What more can I ask?

This year's Dakota Five-0 race weekend started on Saturday with a 16 mile pre-ride that included the entire Dakota Ridge section. Dakota Ridge is very technical and mostly downhill. Pre-riding this enabled me to keep it fresh in my mind and helped me on race day to ride it with just a bit more comfort. I think this may become a standard pre-ride for me in years to come.

After some good burgers and good company, it was time to get some sleep. Everyone at the campsite was in agreement that the night and morning was going to be COLD! I set my alarm for 4:30am so I could throw my kit on super early and go back to sleep another hour or so. I pulled up the temp on my phone, and it was 41 degrees! Didn't warm up much by race time....47 degrees when we rolled out.

My race was very uneventful. NO CRASHES! I had four last year. I rode at a steady and controlled pace up the first three miles of gravel climbing, and continued at a nice pace to the first aid station. I was feeling good, so I rode through this aid station, as I did last year. Second aid station was a short stop to fill a water bottle, and quickly back on the bike. Still felt strong when I reached the third aid station where I filled my bottles, had a banana, and a glass of coke. Coca-Cola has never tasted so good! Thanks Janice!! I was now well fueled and ready to pedal on to aid station four. After I filled my bottle, I started on a beast of a climb. There were many riders walking this section, but I was able to ride it. FELT GREAT! The climb up to the bacon station was next, and this, in my opinion is the toughest climb on the course. Not because it's the steepest, because it isn't (Cardiac Climb grabs that honor), but rather it comes at about mile 30, and the legs don't have quite as much in them as they did back at Cardiac Climb. Happy to say I rode this as well; thanks to a fellow rider that seemed to push me. There was no way I was going to walk this section! Ahhh...the Bacon & PBR stop! What a fantastic idea for a non-official aid station! Had myself a strip of delicious bacon and washed it down with a glass of PBR. I was now ready for Dakota Ridge. I rode this section relaxed and kept up a nice pace. This section could easily end a race if a person isn't careful. One more long climb on a fire road, and a nice, fast, mostly downhill ride on Tinton Trail. After this I was on the gravel again where we first climbed to start the race. I jumped to the big chain ring, and flew down the hill! Only 3 miles to go.

Rolled into town and turned the corner into the park and saw my two sisters, Faunne & Leigh Anne and my brother-in-law Dave alongside the road cheering me on! Seeing and hearing them was GREAT! Plain and simple, I have family that is second to none! Crossed the finish line at 5:33. This was 35 minutes faster than last year, and 10 minutes under the goal I had set for myself. I'm very pleased with this time. Next year....5 hours (or less). Oh, Chris Knoll and I rode Crow Peak the next day, too. 1500 ft of vertical climb in just 3.2 miles!


A big thanks to Perry and all who helped organize and put on this awesome race/event! The beer, food, and massive amounts of swag were outstanding! I would have a hard time believing that anyone in the country does it better than The Ridge Riders!

Somewhere after the first aid station...I think.

Bacon & PBR never tasted so good!

Race complete. Riding to campsite where cold beer awaits.

Summit of Crow Peak! A tough post-race ride the following day!

Just A Little Web Surfing

Only a couple weeks until the Dakota Five-0, and I feel like my fitness is as good as it has been since high school, but on a 47 year old body, that will only get me so far. That said, I still have a few goals.

Goal 1 - Finish. It's a long, hard race, and simply finishing is my first goal. JUST FINISH, JEFF!


Goal 2 - Finish under six hours. Unless I have bike troubles, this shouldn't be a problem...as long as I stay hydrated and eat well. Let's say 5:43. Yep, that seems like a good time.


Goal 3 - Finish in the top 20 in my age group. With 700 riders this year, and my age group having the most participants, this will be a stretch. I'd most likely have to come in right around 5 hours, but if my lungs and legs feel good and everything else goes ok, it's possible.

I have to put in a few more hard rides before Sep 4, and today was one of those rides. Road Harmon lake this morning, and in a word, the day was PERFECT! Took a few seconds off the bike to snap a couple photos. It was a little tough steadying myself with my heart rate around 160, but I think they turned out ok.

Did a little editing on this one with Camera+. Gives it a nice watercolor effect, don't you think?

'His Mother Was A Mudder'

Took part in the Harmon Lake Rec Day Hot Lap race today. With 2-3 inches of rain the night before, it was certain to be muddy! 

We pre-road approx one third of the trail to test the condition, and it didn't seem so bad. WRONG! First half was ok, but the second half seemed to be a bit muddier. In fact, it was muddy enough to muck up my drivetrain every 100 feet or so. Spent as much time cleaning mud off the bike as I did riding! Turns out my tires are a little big for the mud, but it was fun just the same!

 An odd thing happened about one mile into the race. I was cresting a hill, and on the short descent my handlebar caught something and I flew over the handlebars hard! The bike and I were ok, but I was a bit stunned. A good crash every so often keeps me on my toes!

Some evidence of the mud... 

Took me a good two hours to clean my bike, but she's shiny now!

Lollipop Loop

Only four weeks until I tackle the Dakota Five-0 for a third time, and looking forward to it! I've put in a ton of miles this year, so I should be able to better my time. I have a goal of 5 hrs 30 min or less.  If I stay hydrated, eat right, and keep the pedals moving, I should be able to meet the goal, but we'll see.

Some family members are also planning on making the trip as well, so I'm looking forward spending some time with them. Their support will help bunches!

The course, as you see below, covers a good portion of the Black Hills in the NW part of Spearfish. Should be fun!!

If I don't hurt when it's over, I didn't ride hard enough!

Never Too Old To Be A Kid

Photo taken with the iPhone Photosynth app, and edited with Camer+. Who needs a point-and-shoot camera these days?!

Heat Index = 116

Heat index of 116, and I decide to go for a mt. bike ride. I don't so much mind the heat, but today was brutal! Saw just one other hardcore person on the trails, which made sense I guess. However, I think riding 23 miles in this heat made me a better rider. That's what I'm telling myself anyway. It may have also served as preparation for the Maah Daah Hey In A Day mountain bike race in August. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to enter, but the opportunity to ride the entire 105 miles of the trail is very enticing...and scary!

Almost forgot. The reward for my Sunday ride in the 'HOT AS HADES' heat....