It seems as if I just came here to Mankato from the WORS race in Wausau, but actually a month has past and we are all doing the same things once again. I’m taking care of some things while there’s still an internet connection while everyone else is stowing things in the RV and washing bikes.

My time home was a much needed chance to recharge and prepare for the madness of another NORBA RV adventure. Of course there were the endless number of lose ends to tie up before leaving, but the week was quite relaxing. I got in some hard training before yesterday’s WORS race so all systems are go for the next two big weekends.

I was pleased with how Eau Claire ended up even though I know that I’ve got a lot more in me. It seemed as though I was reaching a terminal velocity in the tight twisty singletracks while the lead group managed to open up small gaps. I was going about 90% effort in there only because if I pedaled any harder I only hit more trees… I was able to gas it on the flat open stuff and really go fast, so it is good to know that the legs are surely there.  That’s all I’ll be needed for Deer Valley anyways.

I best finish up here inside and help get this show on the road. Another adventure awaits so stay tuned for roadside details. Keep it Real,  TJ

Racing the WC was incredible today. Lining up with the worlds best was an amazing experience. Making it four laps before getting pulled was also somewhat of a success. I finished 90th in a field of 120 or so; not too bad for a first time attempt. It was full on from the gun and a game of survivial from then on. I was feeling strong and riding the singletrack well which is success enough. Hearing the chants of a largely French speaking crowd was so cool and I can’t wait until my next world cup experience. I now have a better understanding of what it will take to move up in the ranks. It all really comes down to max power and that ever important first lap… All for now, the next couple days will be long ones on the roads of Canada before re-entering the states into the UP of Michigan. Until next time, keep it real.  TJ

Quebec has already been a great experience and the racing hasn’t even started yet. We got to Quebec City by noon on Tuesday and were able to spend the afternoon touring the city by bike. The old cobbled streets and tightly quartered buildings looked like something straight out of Europe. And the fact that everyone speaks French here mad it a really cool experience. I snapped some pictures of all of this, but haven’t yet gotten them on to the laptop yet. Somehow I manage to keep myself busy all day, even though there are few time demands when you’re on the road in the RV.

The course here is like a five kilometer playground with a multitude of flavors. The only common theme is steep; the climbs the descents and even the flat parts are all steep somehow. There is a good amount of burly rocky sections coupled with some clay, some sand and even some gravel. Today Chloe and I rode in the pouring rain after waiting it out for about ten minutes. We both realized that waiting wasn’t going to do much good and once we got going, the course was to our liking. Somehow I still had really good traction and control, even in the slimiest of roots and rocks.  Now that I’ve ridden a couple dry laps and now some wet ones too, I’m confident with my abilities on this course. The lines have been found and alternates have been considered if the traffic is thick. I’m sporting the 101 plate, but who knows how many others have registered; it’s going to be a monster field for certain.

Tomorrow will be some more riding of the course and Saturday the same before the big show on Sunday. Right now I’m typing this update from within the VIP tent that the xc course actually comes right through. Fans will be in here lounging at tables and on couches as we speed through. The course is super accessible to fans and they’ve estimated that 20,000 people will be here to watch the downhill race on Saturday. I know there will be fewer on Sunday, but still it’ll be the biggest and most energy packed race that I’ve ever done for sure. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get some pictures on here as they do a much better job of telling the story. Wish me luck here! Keep it real, TJ

Here are some overdue photos from Sugar Mountain from last weekends Norba.

Back in 2004 I raced here at Mt Snow, Vermont as a first year semi pro racer. That race was a bit of an eye opener.  I’d never raced, ridden, or let alone seen so many rocks on a single race course.  That race didn’t go that well so this year was my chance for some revenge on this brutal course. After traveling up here from North Carolina we were able to ride the course Wednesday thru Friday before the weekend races. I was feeling well prepared for another good go at the cross country, but I didn’t have such luck.  I didn’t have that 100% sensation and after two and a half laps out of the four things turned into survival mode. Granted the hills didn’t seem so steep or treachourous, but the mountain still got the best of me. Finishing was success enough as I crossed the line 50^th.  Today’s short track was alright as my call up starting position continues to improve. The shortish lap meant that I got pulled after about 12 minutes of racing. Ryan Trebon was off the front killing everybody right from the start. If he hadn’t opened up such a gap I probably would have gotten to race a couple times around…

Tomorrow afternoon we are pulling the plug on Mt Snow and heading north for Quebec. This will be my first time leaving US soil and the French speaking ought to be interesting. I’ve got no expectations for my first ever World Cup, but the experience ought to be incredible. WiFi should be more predictable in Quebec so I should be able to update more often; sorry for the lack of updates lately. Keep it Real,  TJ

This weekend things all came together and I had one of the best rides to date. Saturday I was feeling strong in the cross country and finished 27^th on the day. I was climbing really smooth and catching people on each of the four laps. I knew things were on track since I was feeling strong and rallying the downhill. I was really in the hurt locker after effort, but made an adequate recovery for today’s short track race. Things were going well despite my poor first lap until I lost it in a corner about 20 seconds from the finish line. Five guys took advantage of my misfortune. Maybe this wasn’t the best place to attempt a pass after all…

Good times in North Carolina for sure. This race is a good confirmation of things to come with the rest of the Norba calendar. Next stop is Vermont next weekend so I should be ready for this one as well. I’ll try to make a couple posts from the RV on our trip up north. Maybe some pictures if I can get a stable internet connection. Keep it real, TJ

We’ve made a successful journey to Seven Devils, North Carolina and have laid claim to our campsite for the Norba weekend.  We’ve got satellite TV, wireless internet and full cell phone coverage here. All the comforts of home, only with a mountain view. There will be little miscellaneous stress, so 100% of my energy can be focused on racing.

Yesterday was my first lap on the course and it is very much to my liking. There is a serious climb to start things out that is steepish towards the bottom, but flattens to a nice three or four percent grade by the summit. It’s one of those climbs that you can stay seated and really power up if you’re feeling good.  The downhill is a straight shot back down the hills with not too much traversing; quite steep with some fun, gnarly rock features. All will be good if conditions remain dry, but things could be slick if we’d get some rain. I guess we’ll wait and see on that one.

Wednesday we were able to tour the Litespeed factory in Chattenooga, TN. It was cool to meet the people who are directly responsible for my beautiful bikes. The factory tour is very personal and we got to closely follow the entire frame building process from start to finish. There was no mass-producing ‘machine’ feeling here; only individuals putting their personal energies into each and every frame.  Everything is done ‘hands-on’ here.

The morning sprinkles are clearing off now so I’ll be able to get in a dry ride now. Check back and you can find more race weekend reports. Until then, keep it real.  TJ

This pic sums up Sunday’s WORS race quite well. 1.5 laps of strong riding came to an abrupt end with the help of a massive stick. Bummer. At least all of bad luck should be running out soon.

If last week was quiet and relaxing here in Spooner, then I should have seen this week coming. Not that it was too stressful or anything, but the inevitable list of ‘to-do’s’ always comes up before setting off on a month long journey. Near the top of the list were the mountain time trial at City Park and the amazing new Rock Lake trail outside of Cable. Then of course lower-priority things such as moving things out of the house, packing, squaring away auto insurance and getting new plates for the car and made it onto the list as well. Pretty much all of these various tasks have been dealt with; I just need to get into the bike shop now so I can hack about 1.5â€? off my bars before I hit any more trees. If I’m hitting trees in Spooner it would only be bad news out east so the chop must be done.

I suppose some of these tasks could have been taken care last week, but honestly when does that ever happen? Needless to say the past couple of days have been action packed so I’m looking forward to Big Ring on Sunday. And the month to follow should be one for the books as five of us set out across the eastern US in Paul’s RV for the North Carolina and Vermont Norba’s along with the Quebec World Cup. This ought to be quite the road trip so be sure to check in often for updates. The next report will be post Wausau so I’ll have a full recap.

Until then, Keep it Real.  TJ

Today’s race was a scorcher and I can’t imagine how hot it would have been anywhere that wasn’t so close to Lake Superior Temps were probably in the mid 80’s with full sunshine and a fair share of humidity. The first three of five laps where quite uneventful. We rolled around the 18 mile flat circuit doing about 100 watts or so. Seriously, one time I looked down to see that my HR was at 79 bpm. A couple of guys had rolled off the front, grouped together and put some serious time into our main group. With two laps to go the gap was at six minutes. Not long after this it was unanimously decided that we should start bike racing. One guy from GP, Bjorn, and I did a lot of pace making at the front with the help of some of the others that I don’t know too well. These last two laps were quite hard and I was pleased with the effort level since it would actually count as training. The final miles were full of attacks and late race antics. GP would attack, I’d bridge, some one would counter and this went on for what seemed like an eternity. In the end I came up one attack too short and was totally spent with about 200 meters to go so I rolled across in 11^th.  A huge thanks goes out to Mr. Chris Anderson, who was kind enough to reload me up with two bottles in the feedzone. With the heat and sun and 89 mile distance, I surely would have had problems out there without the help. All in all a good day of training. Thanks to the Lake Superior guys who put on this great first time event. Stop by the SickBlog for another, more thorough race analysis.

Yesterday I also did a length ride, 80 miles with good pals Chad and Frank. These miles fall into my ‘junk training’ category, but it was fun to catch up with these guys and a ride always makes for a good opportunity. I hadn’t seen Frank since the Off Road Classic back in May of ’05 and it had been since December since Chad and I hung out. The 80 miles was about the right distance to fit in the numerous conversations that took place.  We rode about 10 miles of dirt too, half being on the Gandy Dancer Trail and the other being a section of road construction. Chad managed to get not one, but two flats on this section. He blamed the second flat on the red anodizing that’s on the inside of my frame pump… Maybe he doesn’t know how to get enough air in and that caused the second flat… Either way, his flat fixing commentary was enough to have Frank and me laughing pretty hard!

This week has been all about recovery. Last week’s four day block had me quite worn out, easy rides were on order. Yesterday I got out for the city park tt action here in Spooner. I’ve always heard stories about how much fun this weekly ride is and I was by no means let down. Seeing a lot of familiar faces and riding some incredible trails can’t be beat. After all, these are the trails that I first fell in love with, way back when I first got a mountain bike. We never actually ‘raced’, but we kept a solid tempo for three laps on the six mile, predominately singletrack circuit. Next week we race! I’ll be cracking the whip again with some intervals the next couple of days and I might even get up to Superior to do the South Range RR. Maybe I can get Sova to join me for that one… All for now, I want to get out on the bike.