USGP of Cyclocross in Portland

It was a bit muddy in Portland this weekend.

The Crank Bros USGP of Cyclocross wrapped up with the final two races being held in Portland over the weekend. The racing rocked and so did the weather. Snow on Saturday and big winds and rain on Sunday. The weather was definitely a factor. I had a good crash on Sunday where I ended up on the mud slip-n-slide for about 30 feet on the right side of my face followed by the rest of my body.

There really is nothing quite like a cross race in Portland. I love it!

WA State Cyclocross Championships

The power of the unicorn remains strong!

The State Cyclocross Championships happened here yesterday and I finished in a solid 4th place in the Single Speed Division. One spot off the podium. A minute and change off the podium that is. I'm getting stronger, but still have a ways to go before I am really riding strong enough to hang with the fast guys. Until then I will continue to chew the Unicorn Power gum and hope it goes undetected in the event that I get called out for an in season drug test...

Power of the Unicorn

Race report from The Day of the Speedvagen.

Sunday, November 11th was the official Day of the Speedvagen. The power of the Unicorn made sure that all stars, rainbows, honeysuckles and waterfalls were in alignment to bring the full force of the mystical power to my races. Yes, that is selfish to think it was all about me, but that's the way it is. Tell me more about how my other Speedvagen brethren fared on the glorious 11th day of the 11th month so we can all bask in the glory...

This was a double race weekend out at Fort Flagler on the Olympic Peninsula here in the upper left hand corner of the country. Saturday's race included a Belgian style sand pit. Plenty of carneage courtesy of those who chose to ride it. I rode the pit 4 out of 5 trips through even though my pre-race strategy was to run it... My finish in Saturday's race put me in 11th place for the Single Speed Division.

You know what that meant, right? I raced from 11th place on the 11th day of the 11th month. I was takin' it to 11 just about as much as any human possibly could without bursting under the mystical force of the Unicorn. Any doubters out there as to where I finished in today's race? That's right - 11th place!! That is it. I might as well just retire right now as there is no way I can possibly do that again. Or is there? Don't sell the Unicorn short - let's see what happens next year...

Day of the Speedvagen

It's coming. Can you feel it? Yes, that is the feeling of eleven. And if you think it is unusually strong this week, you are right. That is because 11/11 is fast approaching. Yes, November 11th is just around the bend...

Announcing The Day of the Speedvagen to be recognized on November 11th, 2007. This is the inaugural Day of the Speedvagen and you should anticipate that the date of 11/11 will be celebrated from this date forward honoring the spirit of taking it to eleven. Your "it" may be something else (and that is OK), but in the case of the Speedvagen "it" is all about Cyclocross racing and eleven means going to extremes. Especially extreme suffering...

This year Seattle's Day of the Speedvagen will be celebrated at Fort Flagler, Seattle Cyclocross Series race #7. It is unclear exactly what activities will take place during the celebration. All that can really be said at this time is that it will be Spectacular.

Brought to you by the Single Speed Champion of 13th place. Putting the Spectacle back in Spectacular. I will be bringing the power of 11 unicorns to smite all who attempt to dislodge me from my rightful (13th) place in the Seattle Cyclocross Single Speed category.

Adendum to the above. If a Cyclocross race does not occur on 11/11, then the Day of the Speedvagen shall be celebrated on the date of the Cross race occurring in closest proximity to the actual date of 11/11.

That is all.

Taking Style to Eleven?

Yo Suckas,

Taking my bling to 11 on the Ft. Steilacoom runup on Sunday.

Photo by Joe Martin

Check out all Joe's photos from Sunday's race.

Action!

Going over the barriers at Kelly Creek.

Photo by Joe Martin

Forget about 11 - I'm going to 14

14th place that is. Two weeks in a row, two different categories, two 14th place finishes. I don't know if you can really say huray for consistency. If I'm really racing then I should be trying to improve my finish. You know, like trying to finish 11th and feeling bad about finishing 14th...

Well, I will take 14th for now and keep on cranking away at getting faster and stronger. Coming up next is Ft. Steilacoom. Home of the Kona Knapp Time Run Up. If you have not experienced this yourself you need to visualize something that pushes the envelope of "UCI Approved" run up length. If you have felt the pain you will know what I mean when I say I think I will cough up a lung if I have to go up that thing 6 times (even worse if it is 7 times) on Sunday.

Way Faster... Looking

First cross race on the Speedvagen today. I finished 15th. Up 4 spots from our first race two weeks ago. I can't say the move up was all because of the Speedvagen. But I sure felt good on the bike today. The Vagen is an amazing machine. I had a Unicorn on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Everything the devil egged me on to do the Vagen was able to handle. Thank you Unicorn Master!!

Eye Candy

Here are a few pics of my Speedvagen - code name "Sparkles"

It rides as nice as it looks. Now I know what the power of the Unicorn is all about!

Eleven has arrived!

Yes indeed. I swooped down to Portland and picked up the Speedvagen today. It is amazing. Sacha and the crew at Vanilla were totally cool (what else did you expect?). I can't wait until the 14th. That is the next race in our cross series here in Seattle. I might not be much faster, but I am going to look damn good doing whatever it is I do out on the cross course!

Let the Suffering Begin

Sunday was the first day of the Seattle Cyclocross Series. I suffered mightily! On the Bianchi I might add.

No mystical falcons, unicorns or other such figures delivered the Speedvagen to my doorstep before the race on Sunday. I do hear that the Speedvagen are being assembled by mystical servants of the Unicorn in some far away land. When the bikes are complete they are delivered via Falcon to the humble recipient of each fine cross racing machine.

I'm not sure the Speedvagen would have lessened my pain, but I would have suffered in much more style. Yesterday was mud like I have never experienced in Seattle. Portland, yes. Seattle, no. We are off for two weeks and then back on it again on October 14th. For this race, I am sure to have the power of 11 unicorns to call upon so that I may smite down my opponents...

Speedvagen at Interbike

Hell Yeah! Look what I found...

Check it out peeps. This page has photos of the Speedvagen in all its glory. Scroll down a bit toward the middle of the page and check it out. I can hardly contain myself!

If you are signed up for Robin's Egg Blue then this is what you are going to be getting.

Retirement Ride?

Was this last weekend the final ride for the trusty San Jose? I can only cross my fingers and pray that the Speedvagen is complete by Sunday. The latest word from my Speedvagen mole down South is that the frames were sent off for paint on Friday and should be back at the Vanilla Workshop this week. I continue to hold on to the dream that I will be racing the first Seattle Cyclocross Series race on the Speedvagen this coming Sunday.

Speedvagens Unite!

Hey,

Any of you cyclocross racers out there that are fortunate enough to be one of the original 30 - you need to get yourself on over to the unofficial Church of Speedvagen website. Check it out at the VAAGEN This is the blog for all Speedvagen racers to congregate and talk all about our exploits.

Cheers!

So Whatever Happened to...

You might be asking yourself this question: So whatever happened to that old Raleigh Grand Prix that was going to get turned into a fixie? Indeed. I finished that project long ago. I just never bothered to mention it to you!

Here is a link to photos of Baby Blue on the Mobius Cycles website. By the way, Mobius kicks ass. They are super cool and located right in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Labor Day Cyclocross Championships

The Labor Day Cyclocross Championship race was held today (hence the name). I didn't win my division, but did finish the race in 13th place. Not bad for my first Single Speed Cross race and running with gearing much more suited for commuting to and from work than for cross racing.

The weather was great, the course was great, all the kids won medals in the kids race and my whole family had a blast.

The Vanilla team came up from Portland and took the first two spots in the Elite Men's race. I know you can't buy speed, or skill, but dangit I am hoping that the Speedvagen brings me at least a little bit of the mojo that Shannon Skerritt and Molly Cameron have on a cross bike!

Only One More Week

OK Suckas,

Only one more week until the first cross race of the season here in Seattle! Things get cranked up with the Labor Day Cyclocross Championships at the one (and only) South SeaTac Park. Get ready for dust, sand and more dust. The action will be hot and (did I mention?) dusty.

Everybody that is not out of town for the three day weekend will be amped up and ready to let 'er rip. So lookout below. There are sure to be plenty of spectacular crashes, pileups and other miscellaneous disasters. And that is just what I plan on perpetrating on the unsuspecting masses...

Long Time Coming

Well, it has been more than a year since I wrote anything here! Where has the time gone? Who the hell cares, let's get on with things...

Cross season is quickly approaching and I am planning to race the single speed division in the Seattle Cyclocross Series. To ensure my commitment to the season I am dropping silly money on a Speedvagen from Vanilla Bicycles out of Portland Oregon.

Check out this link for more details on the Speedvagen -> http://www.speedvagen.com

Check back for more details on this outstanding project and my cycling sickness...