Bagged & Tagged The Rapha 500

All I can say is that somewhere out there is a Fat Lady Signing.

Today laid out its own challenges that I haven't experienced during the Rapha Festive 500. First off one of my fair weather buddies decided to come out and join me for half of the ride. Thanks K-Lew for the ride to Benetti's.

Before arriving I had a close call with a Toyota Mini Van that decided it was a smart idea to turn around on a steep downhill curve. Luckily it wasn't wet or I could have came up short on miles. Not more than a couple minutes later I had a rear flat. Must have embedded something after the little e-stop. As the saying goes 'Things come in three's' well to top it off a squirrel decided to make a mad dash across the street as I was at top speed downhill. Again luck played it's part because the little sucker turned tail to go back the way he started. Very close call.

At this point I was getting a little nervous if I was going to be taken out before getting all miles in. I finally arrived home. The ride was one of those that you would actually like to stay out to enjoy the weather. Albeit the wind was at a sustained 20mph with gusts reaching 40mph. Maybe I should have heeded the wind advisory. Nope there was a task at hand to which I was going to complete. Which I did. I'm still amazed that I pulled it off. Now I hope I get one of the patches.

I would like to the think Rapha for coming up with the challenge. It really forced me to dig deep to achieve the final miles/k's. Feel really good right now, but will see what happens tomorrow.

Photos.

Total

281.9+33.22=315.12 miles.

I'm Going the Distance for the Rapha 500

That's right. I"m going make this thing with one easy ride to Benetti's Coffee Experience tomorrow. I really had some doubts about the idea after the weather took a nose dive. Somehow I managed to hang tough for two absolutely shitty days. Now tomorrow they are calling for 59 degrees. Really it doesn't bother me that the winds will be 25miles an hour. Cake walk after doing that in 10-20 degree shit with the same winds. So excited to wrap this baby up and deliver it to Rapha.

Tomorrow I will download my rides via Map My Ride since I totally blew it with the download of total debacle. I almost did it again tonight. Tired, a little tender all over the whole body. Miraculously the rig is starting to feel the same. I can tell by the little noises that it started producing today. Or maybe it was the shear silence in the fog amplified everything.

Very strange day of riding. The drizzly was more of a sprinkle the entire time going south. Until I reached my furthest point. Then suddenly the mist stopped. The fog, well it hung tough although on the southeast side it subsided just a little. I wasn't quite as afraid of the Loch Ness Monster coming out of the woods. Although I've heard the chupacabra are in the woods out south. Just saying they can migrate you know.

Photos

Total

138.1+143.8= 281.9 total mileage

281.9-310.6= 28.7 left to go

Just remember that you have to go back a couple days before I downloaded & cleared my running total.

Tequila Sunrise Goes Well with the Rapha 500

After last's night pitcher today was going to be a rough one. Well so I thought. With the temps rising, the sun out, plus a little hung over from margaritas I donned my kit. Rolled out the door.

The route was to be the Cultural Enhancement Tour. Why the name? Well it leaves from the suburbs; travels to the urban core via a mix of countryish outcrops to full on golf course locals along the spin. The route visits five different cities along its path. One dedicated gravel path, a greenway trail, then urban streets to reach the destiny for today: Broadway Cafe.

Along the route today ran into several riders which was nice to see. The PRO's from 360 w/Marshall. Then stopped One Eyed Z for a little catch up, then off I rolled.

Todays reward

Double Soy Macchiato & Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Photos.

Totals

Here's where that higher education + ADHD=crusty's total mileage

138.1+30.61-92.12=230.22

I actually can relate. Just substitute 'Mr. Brownstone' for Rapha 500

Rapha Day 5 Late

All well laid out plans are made to be broken. Especially if you decide to stop my your favorite Mexican eating establishment, Fiesta Azteca. Usually when the boss and I stop there we get a half pitcher of margaritas. Well this time I decided to go the full monty. Which was a gooood idea at the time but today it might not be. Only time will tell.

I did ride yesterday. The previous days effort played a big role in the later than usual start. The weather really took it's toll on me. Not that I was pushing pace. I'm thinking the 20 degree temp that effected more than I thought it would. Oh well, living to fight another day.

Yesterday's route was a favorite of mine, in the summer. Now I know why. To many hills, not enough rest in between. Who said Misery was flat? I will show them the opposite. We may not have 10-30 minute sustained climbs. It the endless rollers that will wear on a man's soul. So today's plan is to hit the cultural enhancement tour. With the temps climbing and the possibility of rain I need a big push today and tomorrow to secure the 310.6.

Photos.

Total

138.1+30.61=168.71miles

I made the mistake of leaving the computer on to charge the Garmin. Then it downloaded my history. Damn. Now I have to add this stuff up. Guess that higher education will come in handy after all.

Celebrating Boxing Day by Riding for the Rapha 500

Boxing Day? When I first heard that I thought it was celebrating actual boxers. You know another holiday commercialized by the man. Except this time Don King stepped up.

Enough of that...Today has been the coldest day so far on this Rapha Festive 500 Challenge. When I started it was 19degrees with windchill dipping into almost single digits. Really, really, really cold. After yesterdays mistakes I made sure to correct the issue. Proven windproof fronts. Complete comfort was reached. Actually enjoyed todays ride even been the extreme range of my riding delight.

From this point on it's looking alot easier. Mother Nature didn't break me today. With the weather turning warmer over the next few days I'm feeling confident I will get my patch.

Alot of shots today.

Running Total So Far

Willy Pete Didn't Appreciate the Rapha 500 Contest Today

With the temps topping out at 27 degrees with wind gusts up to 25mph out of the NNE made the wind chill below 20 degrees. That's phucking cold outside to be riding. Amplifying the windchill with the speed I carried I can only imagine how cold it actually was.

When a manufacture produces items that say they are windproof fleece how do they test them? Well my test today wasn't the best results a cyclist wants/like's/asks for. You hear often enough how cycling effects the prostate. If your windproof fleece isn't windproof your Willy Pete will affect your mental state faster than a greased pig getting a away from well....nevermind. I felt great for sometime, until the windproofness? gave way or wait, the shit wasn't windproof in the first place, with the constant wind today.

My first thought was to change direction heading into the west to give me(Willy Pete) some reprieve with the crosswind. But for some unknown reason every time I turned west it seemed that it was a headwind. Son of a Botch, this isn't going how I planned. My conspiracy theory seems to be playing itself out to a 'T'. Mother Nature is working in cohorts with Rapha to make sure I don't get my stinkin patch. I NEED THAT STICKIN PATCH.

Any way I went was the wrong direction so I had to pull the plug otherwise I think it would be hard to explain to an ER doctor why the Willy Pete is frozen at the tip. Since it was so cold I only got some shots when I stopped to make sure Willy Pete still worked.

UPDATED: Feeling is slowly returning. Slowly, painfully, but things seem to be ok.

Total Damage Accumulated Thus Far

Mother Nature Can Be A Real Bitch For The Rapha 500

I'm not kidding. I really mean it. All I want to do is ride my bike for 50+ miles a day. Look that should be simple. Unless Mother Nature & Rapha Festive 500 have a deal going I don't know about. If so, I will overcome. If not I'm going down trying. Both fist's flying, legs a spinning, and with lungs burning to get that patch.

Snow was in the forecast. Well this time the weather folks got it right...

Temps just above freezing made sure it wouldn't stick. Unfortunately I figured it would be a better call to take the MTB out for a spin. That was the right call until I discovered some very busy trail gnomes have cut and signed some new trail. Very fun trail if I should say so myself. The next time I go I will make sure it's a little drier. Rocks and roots covered in snow are a little treacherous. Fun, just a little more than I was ready for.

Today's ride started to push my limits. Toe's got wet, then cold. Glove's became wet from all the snow, then a bit chilled. Mind began to wonder. Luckily I had iPod cranking out some tunes. Tried again to get some shots. Big gloves, snow, fogged up lens caused some problems.

Totals

I'm thinking I should get some extra credit for total mileage. Seriously!

I'm totally shelled.

It Has Begun: Rapha 500

I took the first step err pedal into reaching the final goal of the Rapha contest Festive 500. Knocked off 69km(49mi) not exactly what I wanted but you have to start somewhere. I tried to take some shots of riding in the country from dusk to night time. Its kinda of difficult taking shots with winter gloves on.

Amazing how riding in the country takes on a new perspective from daytime. I've ridden at night in the woods plenty of times. Riding on the road on County Maintained roads is one thing during the day. At night following two separate lights(one on the bars, the other on the helmet) at adds an element all its own. The country dogs really don't know what the hell to do when they saw a couple of lights moving up the road at them. Possums well they played possum. No photos of those guys, those teeth scare the shit out of me. So I just kept moving on.

Ok tomorrow's plan is still up in the air. The weather is going to make it a challenge. But I want that patch. Might have to try and bag 50miles on the MTB.

Merry Christmas Eves Eve...

Day One

Accept NOT Except

These words are no where near each other in terms of definition. Just as close as positive and negative on a AA battery.

Accept.

Except.

I really have to thank the auto-correct on my phone. Damn technological advancements so I don't have to think of which word I would like to actually use.

Why the hell am I bringing this up anyway?

I accepted(not excepted) the challenge of Rapha. I'm striving for the patch. Then IF i get the patch I'm thinking I'm going to need(not want) this or that to sew it onto. You never know I could win the winter bundle?

So how do I plan on accomplishing this task:

• Thursday 23rd: after work getting 20-30 miles off road
• Friday 24th: Buckner 50-60 miles
• Saturday 25th: CET with the Dead Hooker Loop 70-80 miles
• Sunday 26th: mwi Gents Race scouting 70-90 miles
• Monday 27th: Lone Jack Lollipop loop 50-60 miles
• Tuesday 28th: Downtown Loop 60-80 miles
• Wednesday 29th: Pleasant Hill 50-60 miles
• Thursday 30th: mwi Gents Race full monty 80-100 miles

Lofty goals I know. But I did accept them not except them. I want that patch!

First posts will be up at my Posterous. Then I will try to update here with more visual bicycle eroticism.

I guess this will embark my new challenges I mentioned earlier this week for '11. Yea, I know its NOT the new year but damnit it's close enough. It will add money to the bank for the next year of adventures.

BTW, its almost Christmas...

Beer of the Week

A New Chapter

With 2011 some changes are coming like usually for all of us. We make plans for new races, challenges to spark our competitive enthusiasm, set goals for the ones we 'know well' and look forward to some new toys.

Well for the mwi crew our first change is that we are going for Sponsors in '11. So with that I would like to welcome our first Sponsor: Corsa Concepts. Have a peek, get right up there and get to know them. Look for us to be 'wearing' some new hoops to match our uncanny kits.

I'm thinking that there could be some more announcements on the way...

2011 Starts

But first I have to get rid of 2010 items:

1st on the chopping block:

Blue NorCross Med/Lrg. Ultegra Shifters, Rear Derailleur, BB. Dura Ace Cranks, Front Derailleur. FSA SB25 Carbon Post, OS150 (120mm), New Energy Ergo Bars (44cm). Fizik saddle k:ium rails & tape. Thorne Rings 46/38. Spooky Brakes. Swiss Stop pads. Ultegra hubs 32hole, DT Revolution spokes & nipples. Mavic Open Pro Rims. $1450

2nd on the chopping block:SOLD, SOLD, SOLD, SOLD

Blue NorCross Med/Lrg. FSA SB25 Carbon Seat Post, OS150 stem (120mm), New Energy Ergo Bars 44cm. $700

Got the road/TT/crit/gravel bike newly dressed up for the upcoming season of preparation. New/old DA set up now on it. New tape, cable housing & cables. Trying something out a little different this year after discovering my old Fizik tape didn't cut it anymore. Sticking with Fizik but added a double layer, then the magic trick for gravel adventures. All colourways are mwi approved.

One Rocking Show

Forgot I went to see these guys...(its hell getting old)

Beer of the Week

Whirl Wind Catch Up

I have NO idea what has happened in the last couple of weeks.

First.. 24 years and counting...

Second... 2 years and counting for getting crashed out on Friday nights race at Jingle Cross.

I know this was the best start I've had all year. The best thing of all was that JJ lead out over the pavement only to have me slide to the inside and lead out till I picked the wrong line going into the off camber. Then I was only relegated to second. But right after that some douche decided to give me the stiff arm/hip to my left arm forcing the front wheel to wash out with me going over the bars still holding them. All this at a pretty good clip of speed. Instantly causing all the pain from my week two weeks ago to go apeshiittee. Nice work douche.

Adding insult to injury was what will be forever termed as 'the guy' incident. Unfortunate occurrence that erks the hell outta of me. The pride factor was definitely knocked down a bunch.

Yes bad luck comes in three's. Bookending the weekend.. Missouri Highway Patrol decided 10mph over isn't ok during the holiday weekend. PHUCK ME!

But 'the guy' is good at 'pumping' on Mt Krumpet. Things became a bit unruly on the hill this year. More so than in years past. Not saying I didn't enjoy one bit, not saying I antagonized one bit either, just saying it was....

So the rest of the weekend was in support of the mwi crew which did a mighty fine job of cx driving.

Gotta say that was a real blast with the team racers & sponsors there. Looking forward to all the plans laid out for 2011 for the mwi team. Keep an eye out, could be some interesting things coming down the pipeline sooner or later.

So 2010 has had its ups and down's so with that I leave you with my feelings for my season...

One last thing....Get the kitchen passes ready for this 2011 gig you don't want to miss

Beer of the Week

Strada Bianca Nirvana Pictorial

Beers of the Week (Belgian Themed)

Parallel Universe's

Playin' Catch Up

I was waiting on a video to post from last weekend's race but I will have to wait. Technical difficulty in sending me the video. Trust me, it will be a worthy stand alone clip. So this little diddy is about last weekends race then Halloween ride. Both which were outstanding but in opposite pole kinda of way.

First off Boss Cross 3. Fabulous race/course/utilization of the many parks that Kansas City is graced with. Jeremy & Joe didn't disappoint in laying out a course that needed 100% of concentration or otherwise you were off the course, off the bike, or just off the back. It was really nice to come home to race such an awesome course. I might not have done as well as I wanted but I was grinning from ear to ear. Even throwing out some 'words of encouragement' to my fellow racers... The course definitely reminded me of this...

Now to my Halloween ride. Since there wasn't a race going on I decided to get some extra miles in to build back the fitness I lose every two weeks. The ride started off as normal. With only one idea of finding a new route to Benettis. Accessing Raytown is difficult by bike from Less Scummit. That is unless you want to travel highly congested roads, to which I'm not a fan of. So as I proceeded down through the many strip malls I noticed a 'new' access road...

Well to my amazement my 'new' access road was perfect route towards my coffee fix. As I traveled down the road other objects came to my attention...

A paved bridge in the middle of nowhere?

A sweet downhill into an open valley

Yes, that's a beaver damn.

The interesting thing about the valley is that there are several creeks running through it. Was odd to see such a valley like this laying between a mall and a highway. What I didn't realize was that after the valley the trail was gone. Well besides a deer trail which was rideable until the creeks. A little CX practice then some riding then a little more CX practice then absolute hike a bike. To my surprise there was a 6' security fence surrounding the valley. On top of the security fence was barbed wire effectively making it 8'. Oy vey! Did a little scouting around only to find this..

Well someone else has used this route also!

Hung the bike on the barb wire, climbed through the hole and off I go. Only to be stopped by an industrial staple sticking in my tire. Ok, not that route was odd or anything but this is where the whole ride goes towards the...

As I'm fixing my flat under the bridge of the highway, mind you a 6 lane highway, a couple comes jogging down the road towards me. Then suddenly veers to my right towards on of the foundations of the bridge. I honestly thought one of them had to pee, so why not behind the barrier? But NO, they continue up the side of the rock embankment, towards the highway. Suddenly they are out of my sight. Blocked by the bridge base its self. I put my wheel down to shuffle over to see where the hell they went. No clue. No sign of them. They either crossed the bridge or started running on the side of the highway. There is no other streets near here. It was Halloween, sooo maybe aliens got them?

The next little interesting incident during my voyage was...

One of my backroads was almost completely blocked by all these branches someone decided to dispose of right in the middle of the road. The road is just two cars wide so that will give you some idea of the amount of debris deposited. The amazing thing was the height of the mess. It was about 8' tall. Absolutely crazy.

Finally made to Benettis to only find out I missed this guy...

My official Halloween Costume....

I Rule!

Table of Goodness In More Ways Than One!

I really like this costume