Lets get ready to race!

 This just in from the United Federation of Dirt. Please help spread the word!

KANSAS CITY, MO:  We are thrilled to announce the 2010 United Federation of Dirt [UFD] race calendar. The UFD consists of a
collective group of promoters, trail builders and racers unified in the goal of bringing dirt lovin’ good times to the Missouri and
Kansas region. 

For 2010, we are promoting 17 traditional cross country mountain bike races divided into two leagues.  The Eastern League is
comprised of 8 races and the Western League will be hosting 9 races.  The Endurance League brings together 4 races focused on
long distance and the ability for the human spirit to suffer. The events will take place on some the best singletrack that the
region has to offer, including the ever popular Castlewood State Park, Spanish Lake, Wilson Lake, KS and newly minted Swope
Park.  

In addition to the 17 cross country races and 4 endurance races, we are pleased to announce the return of the Short Track Dirt
Crit Series to the St. Louis area and the Kansas City region.  These weekly training races will be the perfect way to keep the legs
a moving and the body acclimated to racing on dirt.

And lastly, the UFD is proud to announce that these events will be under the sanctioning of USA Cycling. This is just the
beginning of many exciting things to come for the 2010 season.  We are still in the early planning stages and working to get all
the pieces in place to bring you the best racing experience around.  Look for more announcements soon…fun in the dirt is what
it is all about.

2010 United Federation of Dirt Race Calendar

Eastern League XC races

• March 14:    Leadbelt XC. St. Joe Park (Mark Grumke)
• March 28:    Mesa Lost Valley Luau (Matt James)
• May 8:          *Greensfelder ( (DRJ Racing)
• June 12:        *Missouri State Championship.  Castlewood (Big Shark/Pfoodman)
• June 27:      St.Charles County Parks (Ghisallo Sports)
• Aug 8:      Trailblazer Blitz.  Spanish Lake.  (Trailblazer Bikes)
• Aug 22:      Cyclewerx Crankfest. Cape Girardeau, MO (Cyclewerx) 
• Sept 25:      *Council Bluffs (ICCC)

• Alpine Shop Short Track Dirt Crit Series– 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29.  Dirt Crit Final Blowout XC race - 8/1

Western League XC races 

• March 28:   Lawrence River Trails. Lawrence, KS (Curtis Martell/Free State Racing)
• May 1/2:     Wilson Lake Fat Tire Festival.  Wilson Lake, KS.  (Doug Chambers/Golden Belt)
• May 8:         Robidoux Roundup. Krug Park.  St. Joseph, MO.  (Randy Tracy/Craig Hoppe)
• June 6:         The Down and Dirty.  Warsaw, MO (Mac Vorce)
• June 20:       Cramp Alexander.  Emporia. KS.  (Matt Brown/High Gear)
• June 27:       Crocodile Rock.  Perry Lake State Park.  Perry, KS.   (Lyle Reidy/HSP/Bad Goat Racing)  
• July 25:         Sunflower State Games (Curtis Martell/Free State Racing)
• Sept 12:      Tour De Lizard.  Arkansas City, KS (Bobby Smith)
• Sept 19:        Kansas City Cup (Federation Championship).  Swope Park.  Kansas City, MO.  (Ron Acklin/HSP) 
• Short Track Dirt Crit Training Series –Thursday Nite Throwdown: June-August Timeframe

 Endurance League (Dirt Lovin Good Times style format)

• April 18:   Bone Bender 3/6 MTB Odyssey.  Smithville Lake.  Smithville, MO (Chris Locke/Cow Town Cycling) 
• June 5:      Dirty Kanza 200 [DK200].  Emporia, KS (Jim Cummins/HSP) 
• Aug 14:    Rapture In Misery [RIM] 6/12.  Crowder State Park. Trenton, MO (Doug Long/HSP)
• Oct 9:       Burning at the Bluff  (Mesa Cycles) 

For more information check out UFD online:

Web:  www.unitedindirt.com
Facebook:  United Federation of Dirt
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/unitedindirt

Barnyard Cross

It's coming soon!

If you're not going to be making the trip to Bend for Nationals, make the trip to Manhattan, Kan. Saturday, December 12 for Barnyard Cross. 

Here's the skinny:

• We will be offering equal payouts for Women's and Men's Open races. (Equal pay for equal play...what a novel idea!)
• The course will offer technical challenges and lots of speed. 
• We will start racing at 11 am so the crowds from Kansas City and Nebraska can make it without getting up too early.
• Refreshments provided by Barnyard Beer and Devil Dog Coffee. 
• This is a nonprofit race: The proceeds will go to developing the outdoor classrooms at the Manhattan Area Technical College and the KSU Cycling Team.
  

We've got some great prizes and and some big payouts lined up. Hope to see you there!

Check Facebook to see who your competition will be: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193404762620&ref=mf

For more info check: http://barnyardcx.blogspot.com/


Also, don't forget this Sunday is the last Boss Cross race of the season. Get out there and race!

Something's brewing in the Midwest

From the United Federation of Dirt

NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES PROMISES BIG THINGS TO COME!

COLUMBIA, MO: A newly formed group of seasoned mountain bike promoters
is proud to announce its intentions to promote a down and dirty
mountain bike series in 2010. The groups will be named United
Federation of Dirt. Included in this impressive group are some of the
region’s most experienced race promoters dedicated to delivering
racers a series that is all about fun and grassroots racing. This
collaboration will deliver a true Regional series that will include
races from Cape Girardeau, MO all the way to Perry, KS. Full Details
will be available shortly but expect great things and great locations
across Missouri and Kansas. We are finalizing the details shortly but
one thing can be guaranteed – fun in the dirt is what it is all about!

                                               ###

Whatever it is, we're looking forward to it!

It only takes 20 dollars to make me hollar!

So two of our fearless heros made the journey up to Lincoln for some CX action.
Dubas and Stamper lined up for the 3/4's race, and managed to duke it out on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Pictures via Michael Dixon's Public gallery
I got a good start about 5th with zack right behind me as we got through the first half lap.
Schumaker was in front of me, until I slipped around him on the screaming descent down hooligan hill (yes it is as awesome as it sounds ......... bacon handups) After a lap or two I realized that zack was not gonna be with me as he had taken a couple of diggers.

I managed to get up to Gilhousen and said "lets go" as we started the flat wide open paved section. I pulled for a couple laps, and then Matt came around. About this time I realized that the great white Cornbread was upon us, crushing it on his SS after starting 15 seconds after us........he is not human.
Gilhousen got a 3 second gap on me after a bit, but took a nasty fall after overcooking a corner and getting caught in the tape and stakes.

I managed to keep it upright for the rest of the race to finish in the money!
20 dollars to make me hollar!
I was talking to zack after the race about his wrecks, and turns out hes was running like 60 psi in his tires! Something about pinch flats..........we are gonna work on incorporating finesse into his cycling repertoire. with clinchers I can safety run 35 psi without things getting to squirrely.
Lord knows, Zack puts out alot more watts than I do!
Thanks to Troy, Craig, Matt, Monkey Wrench, Lincoln Industries, , and all of the hooligans on the hill for making it a great race.
Results are here
Corey had a good video of the 1/2/3 race and the antics on hooligan hill

Lincoln Cyclocross 2009 from Cornbread on Vimeo.

In other, less glorious news I only have another few weeks of torture with Himmler

Deep in the pain cave I can hear Dwight Yokum!

The lab technicians get pretty pissed when I (try to) sing along to classic country music through the flow tube when my HR is at 170. Nothing gets me to that 400 watt mark like Waylon Jennings!

De Stad Cup Mudfest

Sunday's De Stad Cup was the first "real" cyclocross race of the season, in that there was mud, rain and frigid temperatures.

While surveying the course I thought, "this could be a race where one could launch an attack off the line and hold it for the remainder of the race."

The 3/4 men raced last. By then, the course was thoroughly churned and rutted. Patches of grass lined the edges, but deep, slimy, mud ruled the day. If you could get some distance between you and the field, you could put some serious time on the field while fellow racers jockeyed for position through the first slippery turns.

As we were lining up Cycle City racer, Chris Hershey looked at me and said, "this is the guy that's going to win it today." I assume he thought my background as a mountain biker would play a pivotal role in the muddy onslaught that was about to begin. 

Not only did I prove him wrong, I made him eat his words.

I managed to get my first solid start of the season, came off the line in first place and appeared able to get the hole shot. If I could ride clean through the first few turns, I might have a chance at staying away. Then reality set in — as I reached the apex of cobblestone section my legs and lungs were done. 

 Fellow Bad Goats John Waller, Aaron Apel and myself spent the race slipsliding across the course, finishing low in the standings but in high spirits.

Results can be found here.
Series standings can be found here.

Thanks again to Miss Jaime Atkinson for shooting video in the cold and wet!

Hershey, on the other hand, had the audacity to surge through the field and stay off the front for the remainder of the race, winning by a healthy margin over rest of the mud-covered 3/4 men. In the process Chris picked up his second win of the season. Well done sir.

CX under the lights at Heartland Park

First, Big Shout out to Jeff and all the Series 60 folks that made this event happen. It awesome to see that we are able to have these great races at venues that are really nontraditional. And make no mistake, there probably is not a lot of spandex seen at a normal Heartland Park event.

We saw 5 bad goats gruff roll in for the 3's race, and got to see our friends from Nebraska had made it down. Craig, Troy, and Matt of Lincoln Industries were all looking strong in the Masters and open class, and Nate Woodman, proprietor of Monkey Wrench Cycles, also laying it down in the open class. Shad put in another great open race and is always in the mix.

We lined up for the 3's race about 30 deep and went off with a bang. Things quickly got sketchy in the series of 180 degree turns before we got spit out onto the dirt track. It was screaming fast.

Patterson put together some great video



Patterson, Dubas and Stamper made up the bulk of the first chase group for the first 4 laps,

before Patterson blew the group apart with a surge with just under 3 to go.

Tanner and Aaron got caught in the traffic in the first lap, and were fighting traffic the whole race.





Dubas (below) tried to make the bridge up to Patterson, but blew up in the process.

He was still feeling the effects of his total domination Dirty Apple alley cat the night before.

Stamper (above) bides his time and made a move on the last lap to sneak into 7th place, while Patterson(below) held off all challengers for 5th.


Two big thumbs up for night racing.


Big thanks to Mel, Mina, and Jaime for the pics. We definitely had the loudest fans out there. Nothing like having Mina screaming, "Go uncle Dumpy!" every time you come around

Alleycat Aftermath

The 2009 Dirty Apple Alley Cat was a success. About 80 riders streamed out of triangle park to checkpoints across Manhattan.

The checkpoints included: Besting a fellow racer at Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat before proceeding; running through the isles of Hyvee to check the price of a case of Jones Soda; and taking a headshot, stomach shot or slap in the face...you choose.

 Twhet getting everyone registered

Mark Smelser bought the pain train

SNES Competition (pics ripped from Facebook)

How bad to you want to win?

Headshot!

 

Post race party

Fellow Bad Goat Zach Dubas, right, took the win

Big thanks to Twhet and Thomas Krap for organizing this event, and thanks to the sponsors who supported it: Chrome Bags, Salsa Cycles, Surly Bikes, All-City, Velocity USA, El Duke Degreaser, Tallgrass Brewery and Chipotle.

Photos from the Dirty Apple can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedirtyapple/

So I had a little time on my hands this evening...

A big thanks to Miss Jaime Atkinson for shooting the video.

Smithville Cross

Well, another grand time was had at the Smithville CX event. Chris had a smashing course with some absolutely horrid run ups that we ridden by many a bad goat once things sorted themselve out after the first lap.


Patterson proves his sneakyness by surging to the front of the group even after his highly contested "call down" by the Officials. We were also informed that we were not allowed to take our hands off the bars as we crossed the finish line.......I can understand banning dancing in the endzone, but come on?

The 3 billy goats Gruff

Patterson releases all the pent up hate in his heart

I had just eaten it at the lakeside run up so I took the conservative line.

Barriers on a downhill section.....

Aaron busted up on his first 3/4 race and made a great showing.

Laying it down

Patterson cuts a new line.

Aaron rolling the fine line

My domestique clears the way for our triumphant mid pack finish.
Afterwards we made time for some singletrack MTB'ing with the lovely NannyGoats, and then To Free State in Larryville for some Cheddar Ale Soup. It was a glorious day.

The Ride 2 Paradise

Holy nuts! we left for the hill country of north central KS on Saturday after getting a text from Waller that went like this:
JW: hey you guys left yet?
Me: You blickety-blank, no account, so and so..........
JW: I will take that as a no, go sit on your thumb, I will grace you with my presence in an hour.

What I did not tell Waller was that 3 people and one dog were gonna drive 3 hours in the cab of my truck, which seats 2 uncomfortably.

He was not amused.

We met Tanner and Mina in Hays and went out for dinner at The Liquid Bread Company in Hays, America. The vittles were spectacular!

The next morning we went out loaded for bear, as the temps were not forecast to get out of the mid 30's all day.

After Tanner knocked off a liquor store he finally showed up.

He was rocking the pimpest shoe covers I have ever laid eyes on

Big Al was all smiles as we caffeinated prior to rolling out, Tanners outlook was not so positive.

He warmed up quickly once he was astride The (pseudo)recumbent gravel road machine from RANS (note that wheelsucking ner' do well loafing in the side mirror)

Never Doubt the gnar hucking potential of a pseudo-recumbent (especially when it has Juicy Carbon disc brakes and comes with a Sid fork)

Taking a break at a sag stop


Someone pointed out that it could effect my ability to operate a car or machinery......pppssshhhh. Al was like, "shut up and get on the bike!"

Al finally cracks the whip and we finally get the freight train of pain underway. High temp for the day was sweltering 36 degrees. It was a brutal ride with lots of climbs, that eventually saw us resorting to the granny gear on the tandem.

Making love to the camera with seductive looks during my Velonews interview at the lunch stop regarding our current domination of the "midwest endurance gravel road tandem racing scene". Mina quietly gagged behind the lens.

Things quickly turned ugly when someone pointed out there was no such "scene".

This is a common look I get from J. Dub regarding how I deal with fame. Disbelief, contempt, pity......whatever..... jealousy it a bitter pill.

Once again We have gotten caught "ridin dirty" at another great grass roots event in north-central KS. Many thanks to The Renard family, the gracious volunteers, and all the other folks that braved the weather to make this a great event and helped raise money for the NKDSVS
Also many thanks to Mina for taking picture, being the Hostess with the Mostess, and for keeping Tanner from dragging his knuckles.

Cyclocross is go!

Cyclocross season is well underway. Last week was filled with early season preparations. Tuesday I went to Manhattan to teach a cross clinic with Stamper. The turnout was good; there were about as many girls are guys!

Wednesday I rode north of Lawrence to meet with a local landowner who started cycling as a way to get in shape. He's in the process of turning a pasture into a 'cross course and wanted some input.
When I arrived up he already had barriers constructed and the course flagged. The course he designed rode really well — didn't need much help from me. The course is open to the public Wednesday afternoons for impromptu show and go racing. Contact me for details...

This weekend marked my second race of the season and Stamper and Waller's first. Waller joined me at Boss Cross #2 for 45 minutes of pain and suffering. Jeremy Haynes, Joe Fox and the Cycle City Crew always put together a challenging course and a great event.

Waller climbing
Me on a descent