The Auger Blogger

Wet CX Training ride with Dallas Bike Works

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:02:50 -0400

So far on the Auger, I’ve ridden mostly gravel endurance events. Today, I finally rode it the way it was meant to be ridden — 32 miles of dirt, clay, sand, rooty singletrack and grass with five good guys from Dallas Bike Works. Here’s the route on Strava.

With temps in the upper 60s and spotty drizzle, the course was soaked. Thankfully, the new tubeless conversion held air all day long. Only problem was the tread (or lack thereof) on my Clement LAS tires. They were developed specifically for CrossVegas — not wet Dallas. After a few laps, they were caked with clay, which made for some interesting cornering, but I held my own. Only went down once on a rooty section through the woods.

The bike performed flawlessly. Even with the added clay/dirt/grass weight, it felt light and responsive. No shimmies, rattles or squeaks. Just the occasional disc brake howl.

Overall, a great ride. Nice to get out with some fellow CX enthusiasts. Fall is coming.

CX training ride this morning. The weather is perfect.

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:41:39 -0400

CX training ride this morning. The weather is perfect.

In Dallas? Check out Dallas Bike Works. This morning, I stopped...

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 19:21:00 -0400

Look mom! No tubes!

They've got a short CX course and a pump track out back.

My favorite shop in Dallas

Fast service. Nice dudes.

This fall, I'll be riding on their cyclocross team.

In Dallas? Check out Dallas Bike Works. This morning, I stopped by for a tubeless conversion kit. I left with a few new friends, an invite to join their cyclocross team (which I accepted) and both wheels on the Auger converted to tubeless — while I waited. Can’t wait to ride tomorrow morning.

330 lumens and a Foundry Auger

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:56:00 -0400

I’ve ridden all kinds of gravel. Loose gravel, packed gravel, mostly dirt gravel, peanut buttery slop gravel, rutty gravel, washed-out gravel and gravel that’s practically cement. But until last night, I’d never ridden any kind of gravel in the pitch-black darkness of north Texas. Ponder, Texas to be exact. On a ride called the ”Midnight Massacre” — an unsupported, metric century gravel road race with a twist: an 8pm start time.

At the start, the sun was still up (and it was still 100 degrees) but by 9:30pm, the temperature had dropped and Ponder went dark. Real dark. Averaging 15mph, that leaves about 2.5 hours to be guided solely by fellow riders’ flashing red taillights, the occasional reflective directional marker and the 20 feet of illuminated terra-not-so-firma directly in front of you. Dicey.

I ran the Cygolite Turbo 330 and a helmet-mounted, 45-lumen, cheapy headlamp — together providing me with just enough light to keep me out of trouble and see (in vivid detail) one armadillo, one possum, six barking dogs and three tarantulas with fuzzy black abdomens as big as ping pong balls.

I rode the 64.5 miles in about four hours. Here’s my Strava link. Overall, I’d say it felt pretty good — way better than Almanzo. My faith in gravel has been restored. The Foundry performed flawlessly, as usual — and it’s much more comfortable since I swapped out the WTB for a Fizik Aliante. Next up? A tubeless upgrade and more Skratch. Love that stuff.

Midnight Massacre, 7/21/12

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 10:58:00 -0400

Midnight Massacre, 7/21/12

8pm start. 62 miles, into the darkness. #gravel

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 18:11:56 -0400

8pm start. 62 miles, into the darkness. #gravel

Just came across this New York Times slide show by a...

bloodsweatchemo — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:52:00 -0400

photo credit: Tim LaBarge

photo credit: Tim LaBarge

photo credit: Tim LaBarge

photo credit: Tim LaBarge

Just came across this New York Times slide show by a photographer/writer/rider, Tim LaBarge. CX season can’t come soon enough.

Click here to read his intro and see all of the photos.

Kept up with the roadies this morning at the RBM 42-miler. Lots...

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 12:34:18 -0400

Kept up with the roadies this morning at the RBM 42-miler. Lots of questions about the Foundry - most notably, “what the hell is that?”

Just took the Foundry out for its first roll after it was...

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 10:07:00 -0400

Just took the Foundry out for its first roll after it was shipped and rebuilt. With a few quick wrench stops, the sizing is dialed and the rig is ready for anything. Here in the city, I’m running the Clement LAS meats at 75psi — should be able to keep up with the purebred roadies on tomorrow’s 42-miler out of White Rock… The saddle will be getting an Aliante upgrade ASAP, but something I’m not changing is the Lizard Skins DSP bar tape. It’s gummy, tacky and just the right amount of grippy.

Late last week, the Auger arrived. This weekend, I dropped it...

bloodsweatchemo — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:57:25 -0400

Late last week, the Auger arrived. This weekend, I dropped it off at Richardson Bike Mart for a quick rebuild and a post-Almanzo once-over. Should be ready to roll by Tuesday.

Photo

bloodsweatchemo — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:58:50 -0400

Almanzo Stats

bloodsweatchemo — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:13:50 -0400

550 riders

383 finishers (I was #275)

167 did not finish

Took me 9 hours, 38 minutes. The guy riding next to me in this photo is Graeme Webster. He could have finished much faster than I did, but he stuck by my side and kept me going. Thanks again, Graeme.

Check out the Almanzo photos on Craig Lindner’s Flickr

24 hours ago, we were driving back to Minneapolis from Almanzo....

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:56:00 -0400

24 hours ago, we were driving back to Minneapolis from Almanzo. I was still dehydrated, cramping and knackered beyond belief — even after a few bottles of water, a Coke, an A&W meal deal and some much-needed air conditioning.

Driving through the darkness, I looked up through the sunroof and saw my brand-new, trusty dusty steed, mounted to the roof rack. Here’s how it all went down:

We arrived at the Almanzo parking lot around 7:15am. After fetching our race packets and saying hello to a few old friends, we set up our bikes, geared up, filled water bottles and slathered on the SPF 50. It was already hot, but the real heat was yet to come.

We were in the starting chute by 8:45am. 550 riders, lined up and ready to roll. Lots of questions about the Auger - all shiny, new and full of potential. A few guys said, “Hey - you’re that guy who won the bike. The Auger Blogger, right? I voted for you!” I smiled and showed them the bike. They were impressed.

And then were were off. The roll out was fast, as usual. We hit the gravel at about 25mph. All of us humming along in a huge peloton - dust everywhere, lots of hooting, hollering and smiling. Then we turned the corner into the wind. Holy hell.

The day averaged 90 degrees, 20mph headwinds and 40mph gusts. To say it was “windy” is an understatement. Guys were bonking, quitting and sitting on the side of the road. Farmers were in their front yards with hoses, filling bottles. Groups were sitting under trees, hiding from the sun. In the end, I averaged a miserable 12.6mph on the bike and cramped more than I’ve ever cramped in my life. Pukey, dizzy, dehydrated and destroyed, I barely made it to the finish line – blue lipped, goosebumped and shivering, I was on the brink of something bad.

But the bike was fantastic. Weighing in at 20lbs, the Auger performed like a carbon CX bike should - snappy, fast and responsive. The disc brakes were much appreciated on the massive, loose downhill sections. Even the bar tape is primo - super gummy lizard skins. All-in-all, I was extremely impressed by the bike. Just wish I could have pushed it a little harder. My body made the whole thing feel like slow motion – like a Civic engine powering a Ferrari…

But I finished. And now I’m back in Dallas. When the bike arrives later this week, I’ll give it a good wash and go find some gravel, outside of town.

Holy hell that was hard. I feel awful. The bike is amazing. My...

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:31:40 -0400

Holy hell that was hard. I feel awful.

The bike is amazing. My bod, on the other hand? Not so much.

More later. Now? A&W pit stop. Ready, set, #3 meal deal.

That’s not a smirk. It’s anguish.

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:25:53 -0400

That’s not a smirk. It’s anguish.

Almanzo bound

bloodsweatchemo — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:06:56 -0400

Almanzo bound

What will Mother Nature bring to this year’s Almanzo 100?...

bloodsweatchemo — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:50:15 -0400

What will Mother Nature bring to this year’s Almanzo 100? The 10-day outlook is looking good. If it doesn’t rain, I’m buying every finisher a beer. If it’s looking wet, I’m buying myself an O2 Rainwear Nokomis — because, nothing goes with black Foundry carbon like black O2 Rainwear.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

bloodsweatchemo — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:29:28 -0400

Thank you all for voting. I’m officially the new Southwest Foundry Tradesman.

Thank you Foundry for such an amazing (and generous) opportunity!

Stay tuned for an Auger Blogger maiden voyage update.

I’m a finalist! Your vote gets me one step closer to a...

bloodsweatchemo — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:01:00 -0400

I’m a finalist! Your vote gets me one step closer to a Foundry Auger and making this site worth reading. VOTE FOR ME HERE (Once you’ve clicked the link, find my pofile and click my “vote” button. You’ll need to log in with Facebook to vote. That’s it.)

Thank you!

Being a Foundry Tradesman

bloodsweatchemo — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:35:00 -0500

Riding is something I love. I’m not the fastest guy on two wheels, but I ride hard and I ride often. When I’m not riding, I’m a marketing and advertising guy, with years of experience evangelizing on behalf of brands - and building a few of my own.

In 1994, I got my first job. I was a bike mechanic at Wheel & Sprocket in Milwaukee. Deep in the heart of Trek country, you can imagine — much of my time was spent building up Y Bikes and drooling over OCLV. I never did get my hands on one of those coveted carbon frames – in fact, I’ve never owned a carbon bike.

In my stable, I keep a vintage steel singlespeed commuter, an aluminum mountain bike and a titanium road bike. No carbon – not yet, at least…

Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention my cancer crusade — a blog, much like this one, called Blood+Sweat+Chemo. Over the course of four months, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer, started B+S+C to document my treatment, created a huge following, hosted an enormous fundraising event called The One Rock Rally, raised $34,000 for Livestrong, rode one-on-one with Lance Armstrong in Austin and spoke at a Livestrong event at Lance’s house.

But, that was last year. Blood+Sweat+Chemo has come and gone. It’s behind me now. I survived. Last year, I rode for Livestrong. This year, I ride for me. Harder than I’ve ever ridden before.

I hope to do the majority of that riding on a Foundry. And I’d love to tell people all about it, here on “The Auger Blogger.” That is, if I’m chosen.

Let’s do this.