Lumberjack 100

Big M Mountain Bike/XC Ski area - Manistee National Forest, Michigan

What can I say about the trip? Tons.

First off, I have to give a big shout out and thumbs up to MSR and their Hubba Hubba tent. After watching my Dad throw this thing up in a matter of minutes, I am impressed that it kept me warm and dry during the worst storm I have ever experienced in my entire life.(Dad slept in the car) I learned the next day that I camped through a tornado warning and approximately 10 inches of rain. Go me.

the race course. this is not a joke.

Next...mosquitoes. Oh. My. GOD. I'm pretty sure Manistee is the old Native American term for "don't you dare stand still or the mosquitoes will eat you alive". Thank God I brought a pair of long pants. I also brought some long shirts, but apparently sleeves were not much of an obstacle for these guys to overcome. That's one more good thing about the Hubba Hubba, it's mosquito proof. I closed myself up in my tent at 7 one night because I couldn't handle them swarming around me any longer. Ugh. I will never complain about the mosquitoes at my house ever again. Never, never.

Ok, so the whole reason for the trip - race time!

6:45am. Ready to go! Brr!








getting ready for the 3rd lap


last one!


final time through the bog (it was really nasty)






why would you do this on a tandem?


all done!

Finishing time was 11 hrs and 40 some odd minutes - way to go!
A quick race review can be found here.
My gift to dad on father's day was to drive him home on Sunday. :)

Discburner

On Saturday, I paid my dues and helped my fellow cyclists by volunteering for the Discburner. The Discburner is a 6 or 12 hour mountain bike race in which participants ride in a 8 mile loop over and over again until they die. Sometimes literally, but most of the time not literally.

These things seem pretty popular and I don't really get it.

Run to your bikes! Hurry! The race is only 6 hours long!


I was pretty lucky because I got to hang out under a tent all day in the 95 degree heat. Dave tried to make me stand at the road and direct traffic, but I said to myself, "self, there ain't no way I'm standing next to the road in the 95 degree blazing hot sun." So I said, "I hope those mountain bikers remember to look both ways before they cross the street, 'cause I'm going back under the tent." Looks like the mountain bikers remembered what their mommas taught 'em, 'cause no mountain bikers got runned over by speeding cars.


Discburner Casualty

The dude on this bike had just started his first lap and all of a sudden, his bike broke in 4 places. WTF? That's a really, really expensive bike. I went over to take a picture and the guy goes, "you can unfold it if you want"...um, ok.

yeah Dad! (ps. the oldest competitor) I think he finished 5th in the 6 hour category.


I managed to snag a good amount of free stuff. The list includes, wool socks, beer, a pint glass, and an entire box of Grape Nuts Trail Mix Crunch Cereal. YUM!!! I LOVE that stuff.

Bad news, I dented my back bumper by hitting a grill grate that was hiding in the grass while trying to avoid a large truck and a tent. Thanks for the heads up girls that were standing right next to my car and the grill....

Grow little veggies (and fruit)

The last couple of weeks I have been commuting to work by bike, but as I was pumping up the rear tire on the Surly this morning, I blew a tube. So, since I had time to kill before hopping in the car, I took some shots of the garden this morning.

But first, the commuter rig...
A burly, heavy hunk of commuting fun. It weighs in at just a bit over 24 lbs. A big change from the Tarmac.

There it is, sans front fender because I can't find a long, skinny bolt.



baby yellow squash


maters - these guys were a surprise.


the zucchini is growing like crazy. there are blooms like this all over the place


peaches - still growing very, very slowly.