Yup, I'm still alive. Not sure who, if anyone is even looking at this thing any more. Since the "birdman" JR linked me up to his blog, I figured I had better update mine, in case anyone stumbles upon it. First off, I want to give props to Heath Weisbrod for breaking the elusive 9 hour mark in the Leadville 100!! Nice job Heath: 8 hours 58 minutes. You should wear your big gold belt buckle to the next race.

I have had quite a summer of bike riding and racing since my last post. First things first: I basically went without an XC bike for almost 2 MONTHS!!!! Thanks again Trek, for ensuring that I have the tools and resources to be a successful bike racer. My Trek Fuel Frame cracked and FAILED at the point where the main pivot is bonded to the surrounding carbon fiber. I submitted a warranty claim the day after I returned home from the Mont Du Lac race. After 2 weeks of patiently waiting, I was notified that my bike was being painted that week. Another 2 weeks went by with no bike. Finally, I received a call the 5th week after initially submitting my claim that my bike was finally in. It's too bad that after all that waiting, they decided to send me a size LARGE frame. I had to wait another few weeks for the frame to be picked up, a new one ordered and finally, last week, my frame came in. In total I missed 5 buck hill races and went without my bike for 3 MNSCS races. I borrowed bikes for 1 buck race, Bluff riders charge and Welch. Actually, at the Welch race, I used another broken Fuel frame (Eric Guse's) that had not yet failed. Not sure if I'll ride Treks anymore after this year. Rant over, but I'm still pissed.

Since I didn't have an XC Mtb for the middle of the summer, I spent alot of time on the Road, which I think was actually to my benefit. I can tell now that my fitness level is definately better. I am hoping all the road training will show at the Chequamegon. I am really hoping for another top 20. It'll be tough as the local competition is really hot right now in both MN and WI.

Alot of people have seen me stumbling around at races on the sidelines, not racing. No, I havn't turned into a full fledged alchoholic. I crashed hard at the Muddy River DH race, slamming into a tree after just barely clearing a 12-15 foot gap on my pre-run. I ended up snapping my brake lever clean off the bike, denting the downtube of the frame with my left knee, spraining my wrist and tearing some of my right quadriceps muscle. I made the (stupid) decission to race the DH anyway after the crash. I replaced the brake lever with one from an XC bike and lined up. I really couldn't complete a full pedal stroke without a great deal of pain, so I basically pumped and coasted the entire way down. Somehow I was able to pull off a 3rd place. I camped out with JJ, Deet, Richzilla and Timmer on the bluff. We had a pretty good time hangin' out and shoting the sh!t. When I woke up the next morning I was in so much pain, racing the XC was totally out of the question. I had a difficult time walking for the first week after the crash. I had my wrist checked out and it wasn't broken, so that was good.