2014.

Bad Ass Beard Ice after a win at Pando Ski Area

21 total races, 5 podiums and 2 wins.

The season kicked off back in January with a 5 race Michigan Fat Bike Race Series.  Frozen toes, fingers and water bottles were the theme riding slowly and tipping all over Pando, Felt Mansion, Rolling Hills, and Addison Oaks.  I finished the overall series in 2nd place following a close win at the season finale at Pando Ski Area.

WSI Cycling Speed

  I finished the Melting Man, Lowell 50 and Barry Roubaix with grit in my teeth.  The tires were skinny.  The roads were slick.  The beers were cold.  
Yankee was next, followed closely by Fort Custer.  WSI put together a fundraiser for a Youth Cycling Program called “Don’t Stop Fixing.”  Serving free burgers and hot dogs with a smile raised over $250 for the program, funding repair stands, tools and replacement parts for a group of At-Risk youth in Battle Creek.  

Another Multi Sport Event in the Books

Lumberjack was the Lumberjack.  100 miles of rolling hills, roots and suck.  Every finisher was given a stainless pint glass.  I drink from that goblet as if I were the king of all Michigan singletrack.

My 2nd of two wins came in July at the Tri Del Sol Duathlon.  I partnered with my wicked fast running nephew Levi for the relay and we ate the competition’s lunch while they watched.  

Trading shoes for the raging continues

Once August rolled around I started missing my fat bike, so I partnered with my dear friend Brian Yost for the 6 hours of Pando.  This historical Michigan Endurance event holds a very special place in my heart and I was glad to be back.  The equation was simple.  6 hours.  4 mile laps.  2 big dudes.  2 fat bikes.  1.5 hours in and my chainring breaks in half.  This is where things get complicated.  2 big dudes, 3.5 hours of racing left, only one fat bike.  Our relay hand off included a high five and trading shoes before we could continue our March to the podium in the Expert Open duo category.

Running?  Yea, I will admit to it, in certain social circles.  Even the most passionate of competitive cyclists will turn to the dark side from time to time.  After reading Joe DaSenna’s “Spartan Up,” I signed up for an obstacle race in Illinois.  Running, climbing walls, horsing around in the mud and hauling big rocks.  What could be the big deal?  What they don’t tell you is that the mud smells like horse shit.  I tried it.  I put the sticker on my car.  Never again.

A very special thanks to supporters of the Traveling Circus including my wonderfully patient wife Holly, Team Active and the WSI Cycling Team.

Fun Promotions Fat Bike Series 3 and 4

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: TEAM ACTIVE END OF WINTER PARTY FRIDAY FEB. 28!!!!!

Brian Yost and Beard Ice

 A "Two for the Price of One" blog post.  Race number 3 in the Michigan Fat Bike Series was hosted by Addison Oaks.  My kind friends Brian and Laura reside on that side of town and they hosted me for a fun weekend.

The race was a cold deep mess.  10 degrees, deep snow and 2 hours of pedaling, pushing and tipping over.  5th Place.

Race number 4 was the following weekend in Saugatuck.  The temps were warmer, but the snow was deeper.  Fun Promotions did what they could with conditions and created a short L shaped course around the parking lot and up the road.  One short climb and two long straight aways.

Big Wheels rolling early on.

All Photos courtesy of Jade Cycles.  Check out their new Boss Fat Bike. 

The 45 minute race started fast.  I had something to prove after my poor showing at Addison. I tried to stick with the top 4 guys right away.

Jade/Whisper Sponsored rider making his move

My view for the better half of the race

Two Masters rides made an early move that I could not match, so I tried settling in with Matt Smith, pictured above.  He wasn't very interested in having me along for the ride and he took off shortly there after.

I stayed on the gas and kept him in site all while putting time on the chasing group of four riders.

By the end of the 45 minutes, I was toast, but on the podium for the first time in 2014.

It pays to be tall, almost looks like I am on the tall step.

The final race of the series will be this Sunday at Pando.

As always, a very special thanks for the support from Team Active, and WSI Cycling.

Many years ago, before every bike bit was made of carbon fiber and you only had one choice of wheel size, I walked into a Grand Rapid’s Schwinn shop with big dreams and what I thought to be a shit ton of money.  ($650)  Based on my extensive knowledge from bike magazines, I knew I needed a Rock Shox fork.........and a cool ass bike.  The sales person showed me the Treks and the Schwinns but nothing peaked my interest like the metallic green Gary Fisher.  I did not know much about the brand outside of their artsy catalogs and spokesperson who was claimed to be the father of fat tire pedal power madness.

I took one look at the bike, with its metal frame, Indy XC fork and beige tires and I was hooked.  I counted out my twenties, tens, fives and ones on the counter, and the bike accounted for all of my high school graduation party earnings.  I took the wheels off (my first experience with Quick Release) and stuffed my pride and joy into the back seat of my Chevy Corsica.  I was hitting the dirt that afternoon, and most afternoons for the next 16 years.

That bike was a race weapon, a single speed conversion, a college commuter, a mid-20s bar bike and still is in my basement today.  I pedal it around our unfinished basement while my son rides his tricycle, that I wish was a Gary Fisher.

The Legend

That bike introduced me to the culture of mountain biking and later to the bicycle industry as a career path.  When Fisher introduced the Sugar suspension platform, I was in love.  A few years later he unleashed the 29er hard tail platform and I no longer looked like a giant bear riding a tiny bike in the circus.  All while riding these works of art, I was selling them to customers in various shops hoping they too would join the off road revolution.

On Saturday I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to sit across from Gary Fisher and share my story.  I told him about being a super-fan of his enduro greats like Cameron Chambers and Nat Ross.  I told him about my Green Metal Machine, and about all the 29er bikes I sold.  He smiled and said thanks, and it made the work worthwhile.  

Big Wheels Churning, courtesy of Steve B.

I also had a chance to race my fat bike in deep snow.  The race was done by recent Hall of Fame inductee Brent Walk, and sponsored by Wheels in Motion.  I had the legs, but the poison powder sucked the life out of my passing opportunities.  I was hanging tough with the lead group for the first 2 laps before making some costly mistakes and finishing 4th.  Next race in the series will be at Addison Oaks on February 8.

Love Dan

Trying for the Hole Shot

My Bike is Fatter than Yours

Michigan has traditions, but none more popular than Beer, Fudge and unique winter recreational activities. Combine all three and you have yourself some quality fun. Michigan’s Fat-Bike fuse was lit while I lived in Arkansas. I followed the spectacle online thinking how silly it was. Heavy bikes, riding in snow, frozen fingers etc. Fast forward two years and I am at the start of Fun Promotion’s first Fat Bike race of the season straddling a 40 pound monster truck mountain bike about to embark on a 2 hour slog through lake effect snow. The Hills were scattered with skiers, snowboarders and XC skiers enjoying Michigan’s traditional winter recreational activities. Everyone one of them gave bewildered sideways glances from their neon colored goggles to my Fat-Tire Brethren. 3,2,1 go and my knobby tires were crunching in unison with 20 other non-traditional winter recreation participants. I wish I could weave a tale of a speedy hole shot followed by heroic suffering. There was no strategic racing maneuvers, perfectly timed attacks or team tactics. It was a bunch of people riding silly bikes in the snow as fast as they could. It snowed. I was cold. I finished 4th. A special thanks to the essential gear that insured my survival: Big Knobby Tires (Team Active) Toasty Winter Cycling Shoes (Team Active) My Beard (A diet rich in bacon and craft beer) Love Dan

1 YEAR AND 1 MONTH

That is how long it has been since I have posted. Many things have happened. 1. Sawyer started crawling, then he started walking, then he started talking. Now he runs, yells and asks questions. 2. We moved back to Michigan 3. I started racing bikes again stay tuned for 2013 results, bike upgrades, baby pictures and new links. love dan

Heart you some You Tube

Stoemper Presents Ben Berden from Stoemper on Vimeo.

Bikes, Babies and Panera

Anyone who lives within 50 miles of Northwest Arkansas knows what the the "Bikes, Blues and BBQ" weekend entails.  All things surly, leather and noisy gather at the edge of the Ozark mountains to embrace their biker culture, ride around without helmets, cause accidents and make all kinds of noise.  (check out the South Park Episode on Harley Riders)

The only place to escape from the "life saving" loud pipes was Panera Bread and Target.  Good thing we love them both.

Some big events coming up for the Traveling Circus

Flying to the great white north this weekend to throw down at Crossfit AZO.  How will I prepare? Constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity.  (Crossfit)

After that I have the Chilli Pepper 10K festival.  How will I prepare? Constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity.  (Crossfit)

After that I am traveling to Arkadelphia for the Degray Lake Xterra.  How will I prepare?  Constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity.  (Crossfit)

I will finish up the season with the Fayetteville half marathon.  How will I prepare?  Wishing and hoping I do not fall apart.

with love

Sawyer turned 5 months today.  He will be mobile soon.

New brakes, fork and saddle.  Thanks Phat Tire Bike Shop.   

dan