BITD

 The Ace, Stoney 08

 

 Salt is literally rocks that you eat

Currently

 Wonder how many from the scene will make the trip?

 

 

Brbrbr 

26 degrees feels like 20, well what a chilly start to the end of a fast moving November,

Hope everyone enjoyed some time in that what stuff, because I know I did. Looks as if the AAVC folks had some fun playing in it. Looked like a nice closer to Scenes CX series. I don’t currently have any results in front of me so not much to babble about on that front. Things have been pretty quite up here. Just tightening up the compound and hammering out plans for 2022 season. 

Wish I had more..

Regards Tripper 

 proper sticker placement 

 

 

 Colin Chapman, Mike Costin, Alan Stacey, Innes Ireland & Graham Hill - Lotus 17 Chassis - 1959 Hornsey, London. - source F1 Old and New.

 

 

 The Dogger..

 The importance of good shoes 

 

 Hard to tell where the seat post ends and the frame begins 

1. Five race series
2. Bloomer
3. Munson
4. Springfield Oaks
5. Waterford
6. Vets Park
7. A race
8. B Race
9. C race
10. 1 hr
11. 45 minutes
12. 30 minutes
13. Awards directly after each event
14. Non USAC
15. Sundays only

The Michigan CX cup. ran by the old guard

1. No one wants to race after Iceman 
2. Difficult for promoters to lay out a course
3. Hard on the parks
4. Return on investment 
5. Rob rarely shoots cool CX pics
6. Tough on equipment 
7. USA cycling 
8. Scheduling conflicts 
9. Too many categories for the promoter to jumble 
10. Over thought courses
11. The weather 
12. It’s not cool anymore 
13. Inability for promoters to post results in a timely manner 
14. No one wants to race after iceman 
15. No Sunday races, eliminating any shop employee or people that work Saturday 
16. No big cool race.
17. It’s fuckn hard

Why cross is dying.

 116 days until Barry Roubaix 

 Be thankful for the little things..

Hey Henry

Yeah 

Got any plans for the Holiday week?

Well yea i guess, but not in what traditional average america has on tap. I prefer my week of Thankful as more of a time recenter myself, and ground my inner most being before the onslaught of what is the Mega Holiday season. No i slow down all week and just enjoy the time, whether it be with family. a good book, a nice easy playlist or even maybe cabin chat with Tripper. Even Henry needs to slow the fuck down once in while.

BITD

 Waterford 2007

 You don’t make brownies, you make one brownie and then cut it into smaller brownies.

Currently

 Never..Never sprint from the hoods

Rule number 4 from chapter 1 

From the book of

Black Science 

Unbound Gravel part of six-race US series offering $250,000 prize purse to exclusive field

 Life Time Grand Prix unveiled for 40 elite cyclists on three gravel, three MTB events

A new off-road racing series was unveiled Monday, with the Life Time Grand Prix offering a $250,000 prize purse with equal payouts for select fields of 20 elite men and 20 elite women. 

The Unbound Gravel, Crusher in the Tushar and Big Sugar Gravel gravel races will be combined with three mountain bike events to create the new series. Ther organisers said the six events named for 2022 will continue to operate individually and will continue to offer their own prize purses in addition to the $250,000 Grand Prix prize purse. 

The six races are part of a collection of 30 events owned by lifestyle brand Life Time, beginning with a new marathon mountain bike race, tentatively planned for a distance of 75 miles, at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterrey, California in April. The series will conclude in October with the second edition of Big Sugar Gravel held in Bentonville, Arkansas in October.

The application process for series spots, limited to just 20 for women and 20 for men, opens today and closes December 6. 

According to a press release issued by Life Time organisers, riders will be selected based on a range of criteria which include race resumes and results as well as feedback from the applicant on how he or she is “helping to grow cycling in the U.S. through their activities.”

“Life Time is proud to play a part in the changing landscape of professional and recreational cycling in the US.  After many years of declining participation, we’re experiencing a groundswell of growth, in both amateur and professional field sizes, especially in our gravel and mountain bike events,” said Kimo Seymour, president of Media and Events at Life Time. 

“Through the Life Time Grand Prix, we are excited to offer an opportunity for professional cyclists to achieve their potential domestically, and for fans of cycling to be able to engage with those athletes.” 

A points system will determine the individual standings for each gender category, with a final tally after Big Sugar based on the best five scores. With this format, organisers said it provides flexibility for riders to skip an event if needed without being penalised. The riders with the most points from their top five events at the end of the series will be the winners, and payouts will be awarded to the top 10 riders in each category. 

The Life Time Grand Prix is expected to name a new list of events in future editions, with some events rotating in or out of the calendar. 

The Sea Otter Classic has been the most recent acquisition by Life Time, which purchased the 30-year-old multi-discipline event in August. The four-day cycling festival, which has offered various downhill and cross-country mountain bike races in the past along with road and gravel competitions, will add the marathon mountain bike race to the schedule at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterrey.

The Chequamegon mountain bike race, which Life Time acquired in 2011, and has been held in north-west Wisconsin since 1983 and is the longest-running event that is part of the inaugural series. 

Life Time, which owns fitness centres across the US, also owns and operates running and triathlon events such as the Verizon New York City Triathlon, Chicago Triathlon, Leadville Marathon & Heavy Half,  and Life Time Miami Marathon. 

The company has been adding a variety of cycling events over the past 10 years to its portfolio. In 2019, after purchasing Unbound Gravel, it launched Big Sugar Gravel as a ground-up event, the first edition taking place in 2021.

2022 Life Time Grand Prix Series lineup

April (tbd) - marathon mountain bike race at Sea Otter Classic,  Monterrey, California 

June 4 - 200-mile UNBOUND Gravel, Emporia, Kansas 

July 9 - 70-mile Crusher in the Tushar, Beaver, Utah 

August 13 - Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville,: Colorado 

September 17 - 40-mile Chequamegon MTB, Cable, Wisconsin 

October 22 - 100-mile Big Sugar Gravel, Bentonville, Arkansas

 

KWOW! 29 degrees on this glorious Monday!

I don’t have to tell you campers what today is...I’m sure you all know it’s only 120 days until Barry Roubaix!  Jajaja just kidding with you! But I am a little more than happy on this particular Monday, why? Because I always love the Thanksgiving week no matter where I am at, who doesn’t love a holiday revolves around just being thankful for the simplest things in our life.

And with that I’m sure there’s more than a few of you out there the cyclocross season is creeping to a close and you can get back to the normal way of riding a bike. Not sure what majority thought about the weekend in Michiganscene cyclocross, but someone had to be crowned the state champion. Congratulations to all you deserve more than just random likes. If I was your boss I’d give you the day off. Nice to see the Burke family keep the cup one more year, I couldn’t imagine anyone appreciating that dusty piece of history more than the Burke family. The Masters group looked to be race to watch, lots of heart, and well if I can be soo bold expensive bikes in that field. Must be a beautiful time to be bicycle competitor, that time when expendable income starts come into your house, the kids grow up move out the house and off the payroll for good, allowing you to keep with your riding partner on who has the latest most sonically tricked out bicycle..

Oops..I’m waay over on time. Have a fantastic day and an even better week. Take time to tell someone you don’t always tell on how thankful you are to have them in your life

Regards Tripper 

 

 

 The importance of good shoes 

 

Jacky ickx

 

 

 

 

122 days until Barry Roubaix 

 

Gary Mudd, who and why? Because this dude has the most bitchiness last name, and if names were Watts this dude would be sitting at 405 at threshold, but it doesn’t work that way....but we put him on the list anyway..

Oh and since we put the Mudman on...Mark Detman, the old cranky cross bastard deserves a honorable call up.

Sitting in at #15 is..Pete Thompson not old enough to be considered the old guard but still old enough to make his way between the tape. Pete can pedal and he can handle a bike.

Andy Weir, comes in at #14, ol Andy has been around the scene longer than pair of case hardened yellow  Tufo tubular clinchers. I wouldn’t count out Andy might surprise a few but not TMS. Glad to see the Big Pun on this list

Michael Green in at #13, Mike can be on again off again, so slotting him at mid pack might be a failure on our part, but the next batch of guys are gonna be hard to split up.

The semi infamous one John Osgood, said it year after year after year for a big dog Jgood can lay down some wattage, and coming off some good mountain bike races and gravel events, he’s gonna be tough to beat. The guy can handle a bike ..rarely chokes, and his last lap is usually his best. Give him the #12 spot.

Goocher, Scott Goocher, probably been around longer than most even know..like a ghost he’s still here,  if travel miles and hotel time counted as Wattage numbers Gooch would pumpin out almost 375 at threshold, but like last names, it don’t work that way. Often known for making too many mistakes Hopefully all the time spent out of the scene pays off and he clips and can handle the KLM boys. Call him up to the 11th seed

Gun to Tape Baby! Gun to Tape! If catchy sayings, and deep pocket rigs, counted as much as numbers do, BRad would easily pushing out 396. BRad will need his A game and his A- game to climb out of this number 10 spot. Good luck son..Goocher, and Chunky Clunker are not gonna let you ride away..

To number nine currently held by Ed Allwies, Ed insists on running canti brakes because the thought of using modern day properly functional braking system will only slow you down. I’m giving Ed some solid respect for racing brakeless, and with that im giving Mr CrossFit the number 9 card

If the ability to pedal a bike and run more than most check there Status! Nick Stanko would be well on his way to the UCI tent to tinkle in a cup. I am quite surprised he doesn’t focus more on CX than all day rides around the park..if conditions are right  Nick is gonna be just ahead of the KLM train and slightly behind, Jerry Daum. Come on up.. Nick get into the number 8 slot

Jerry Daum, who? same. But he has had some solid rides, and just might be a spoiler claiming lucky number 7

Derek Ubbink, come into the 6th seed don’t make us look bad.

Number 5, multiple State Champion, Brian Walcharz has predominantly came good, as much as he has fizzled . I’m taking a chance and making reservations for a podium spot for the polite quiet bald guy from Revolution 

One of only maybe 3 riders left from The Golden age, short on stature, big on heart. Simon Bailey gets in at number 4. A former masters State champion knows the game. Rarely makes mistakes, He’s gonna need good legs to stop..

Brian Harrville, Brian has been putting some solid rides year after year, he looks lean and fit and he with the wrest of KLM crew is going good. Give him number 3..

A long time favorite and a long time Miscene CX honch, without disrespect, I’m kinda of surprised he didn’t take the pass on the masters title and came into the elite race with fresh legs and give it another shot at the keys to the cabin. We have said it all along it’s a name that’s missing from that cup /( remember that) And we strongly believe he still has it in there somewhere. With the fields unfortunately softer than they ever have been, it’s now or..maybe next year. Doubtful he can do it this year if tries the double..but if that happens, TMS will change its name to the Underdog Chronicles... huge props, and respect for still riding CX ship..Tim Saari in at number 2

TMS hall o fame dude...it took you a lot longer than the Black Ace thought it would, but once you did, you proved what the Evil-Dude said..”once he wins one, he will keep on winning” it’s gonna take some good legs, luck, and maybe a mechanical to remove that cup from the Burke’s living room...We love the fact that your living proof and a testimony to the old adage that when you age you don’t have to race every time there is a race.

And with that it leaves us with the what if’s....

What if..

Jeremy Duffield comes out...

What if the Pony pulls the trigger 

What if...Scotty comes

What if...KIDA were to ever do the CX thing...

And what if..

Uberti says it’s a good day to race..

What if..

The WIZ thought maybe I can..

What if..

Nate dog would of

What if..

Yankus said...I’ll try again 

Wonder what...

The bunny is doing..

What...if the world as really flat..

 

The shear excitement has me on the edge of my seat since being told I could spew my Power Ranking opinions, it’s been a few sleepless nights, and more trips to the potty that I care to reflect on.

Naa it hasn’t been anything like that! It actually has been the almost the opposite the fuel for the cross scene has been running near empty all year. Not that I don’t respect the sport, because in all honesty and fairness, it’s probably one of if not the hardest discipline of cycling, which is probably why the turnout volume is so low, factor in a staggering race schedule, through Covid into the scene, and we’ll let’s face it head bangers, the World of Gravel hasn’t helped it. But it’s here all the same and when USA cycling says it’s a state championship, it’s a State Championship. 

In years past it’s been a pretty complex week of day to day breakdown of the medal winning groups, often diving into there actual power numbers, and abilities to handle the course,  but despite the crippling scene, we made it easy on Lenn, We through a handle full of names and let him sort the chips out. 

From what the pre register list looks like, if I decipher it correctly the most competitive group isn’t the run for the most coveted crown, it’s the Masters men, 35 and up. Although not elite level riders, still a hard race to win. 

Ranking these guys ain’t easy, but let’s see if old Lenn can give it a Miscene effort

Slotting in at...

Sorry we needed a Friday 15..

 Everything you see has already happened.

Hey Henry

 

Yeah,

Your not Henry..

Yeah, I am sorta

Confused, what gives?

Well you see, it used to be a long standing tradition around this time every year a good friend of mine would stop by and give the blog a hand with a little something they once referred to as Power Rankings..

Power Ranking what’s that even mean??

It was just a fun way to rank the local cyclocross racers, heading into the final leg of there season, and to the much coveted State Championship 

Oh neat, expand more.

A group or panel would discuss and debate where the riders fell in order of strength, skill, experience, and mental toughness 

Seems like a lot of work 

It was..

Would you do this for each and every class?

We did, but times have changed, with gravel biking, COVID, and just shear change of people, the cyclocross scene has evaporated into this ghost like sport, despite having a National championship just a state away the interest in the sport is at a all time low. and its a guess on which one of the old guard will ride the ship to the bottom of the great lakes

So i am really confused, then are you gonna do a power rankings?

Um I sure am! 

But..it doesn’t explain why your dressed the way you are?

Ha! You are correct and sharper than I gave you credit for.

My good friend Danzig, used to be the man, the go to Dude for the almighty power ranking session, but with lack interest, and just lack of funds we are not sure Ol Glenn wants to take the time and is willing to do it for kitty litter. So im dressing in character.

Ahh, so let’s here it..

Oh, not so fast. You will have to wait until tomorrow...