Trail Day at Swanson 17 November

Folks,

Feel free to forward to other interested riders.

On 17 November from 8:30 ? 12:00 THOR will be hosting a trail day at Swanson Park to:

- Reroute the downhill section vicinity of the Fire Department Training Area

- Correct water drainage problems on Tetanus Ridge

- Add a new trail extension

Volunteers are requested to bring gloves a shovel, pick-axe, brush saw, loppers/clippers or commercial type rake to help cut in the two new trail sections and to help fix some erosion problems. Tools will be provided by THOR if you don?t have any of your own.

The current down hill trail will be closed and replaced with a new down hill trail that follows the current IMBA guidance on building maintainable and sustainable trails. The current downhill trail is not within IMBA standards and remains in constant state of rain damage. Nearly 25% of all volunteer THOR trail day work for 2007 went into maintaining this 400+ foot section where we have to support over 5 miles of total trail.

Look forward to seeing you there!

--
Swanson Trailleader

Tom is turning 60!!!

Tom, the guy in the middle of the picture is turning 60 tomorrow and we all went for a BIRTHDAY RIDE yesterday followed by food and cake..yummy!!!
We wanted to ride at Lake Manawa but the rain forced us to roll on pavement so we did 25miles and Tom did the pace making...most peeps couldn't hang with him and turned around earlier.

Take that young folks!!!!!

Tom comes out to all the races and most of the wonderful race pictures you see on my blog are shot by him.
He is also VERY active with THOR and we are all happy to have him on board:)

Ergon BD1 Team Edition backpack

The Ergon BD1 Team Edition has been on my wish list for a while. Unfortunately am I job-less right now and don't have the means to buy one, but I can keep dreaming about it>>>
Now Elden has a competition going on his web site
and whoever writes the best story about the possible use of this killer pack has a chance to win it. COOL!!!!!

So here is my use for the Ergon BD1:

I like riding with back backs, always have. I just can't get used to drinking out of the bottle and besides XC race situations, I want more water and more stuff on me but more about that later.

My husband could tell you of my search for the holy hydration pack, because he is part of it:)
I own and have owned several different brands of hydration packs and there are some good ones amongst them. I have been using some of the Deuter packs (they are also German) and I just had a Wingnutgear Assault made for me for racing. That thing is wonderful, but really small.

Why the Ergon BD1? Well, I almost have a love affair with ERGON, yes I admit it:)
It is such a great company and they are making such great products!
, This is me after my last XC race, In my GREEN team kit, sporting my GREEN Ergon Grips, that I would never want to miss again. Those are the most comfortable grips, I have ever ridden with:)
But to make a long story short, I really like the color green and you know, how important color coordination is for women:DAnother green example! I do need the Ergon pack to go skiing this winter. I need to carry water and snacks and a first aid kit with me. My husband says, I am a little speed demon on the skis.

Well, that is actually just part of the story. My real reason for my love for Ergon comes from wanting some equipment on me or on my bike that is from my homeland.
Ergon is a German company and I am a German girl and I just get the greatest kick out of having a little piece of home with me on my ride.
Makes me less homesick:)
This shows my very first race ever, still back in Germany, a 6o km marathon. It was hard and painful, but sooooo much fun and that is something I want to do next year again. With the Ergon BD1, I would be ably to carry all my nutrition and a rain jacket, leg- and arm warmer, sun lotion and a first aid kit. (It was in the higher 30ies, when we started that race...brrr)

I am dreaming about doing one of these well organized 100 km Marathons in Germany again next year.
I would fly myself and the bike over and ride the race and as the icing of the cake, would be that I would be able to attend my parents 50iest wedding anniversary!!!!!
For that, I will fill the BD1 with flowers and candy:)))

This pictures was taken in the European Alps, The cows are real and the one behind me was VERY interested in me, maybe the GREEN jersey? It actually walked up to me to check me out.
I could have used an Ergon pack with a cow stunner.....
In that area, the trail go right though the cow pastures. I wish I had more pictures of that ride. I went out with a girl friend and we rode around the Zugspitze, which is partly German and partly Austrian.
If going back with my new BD1, I could carry my camera and could show you the stunning pictures:)

But back to my daily life.
I ride 90 % MTB and 10% Road. On the MTB, I always carry a pack, with water, gel shots, CO2, tools, some money, cell phone, after coming up on the last bike crash, I will put some first aid stuff back into it as well. TP, baby wipes, bug spray and once it cools down, I carry an extra layer of clothing with me. And I often carry a saw:)
It's a little hand saw...why, well I am member of THOR (Trails Have Our Respect) and we take care of out own trail system.
So we often have trail maintenance days and take out packs with us, so we have water, gloves, snacks and tools to work on the trail. I think it is almost as much fun as riding them and it builds a great community. Plus my dog Mr. Whiskers can come along as well.
I wonder if he would fit in the BD1??

As you can see, I have MANY uses for the Ergon BD1 and I can promise that it will be in good hands and will be much loved.
And since I will be riding through the winter, will it never have to stay at home and be bored:)

Blooming Weekend

Mr. Whiskers found his "fav" spot for the hottest days. He just stays in there and plays with his balls. It's pretty cute to watch him...

I didn't do much this weekend.
I felt a bit under the weather and I didn't even feel like riding.
I tried to ride Saturday morning. Martin and I went for some riding to Swanson, but I quit after one lap and went home:(
I am constantly tired and I have NO energy.

All, I did was cleaning the house a little bit and in the evening we went to visit some friends.

This morning, I slept until 10:30 am, with Mr. Whiskers in my arms. He is such a cuddle-bunny:) I woke up with a sore throat and a headache...
After my morning coffee, Martin and I went to Menards and the Nursery to get building material and plants. We built a new flowerbed and I needed some more plants.
Martin works on all kinds of projects around the house. Right now, he is building more shelves in the garage, so we get our bike stuff better organized.
We also got 4 or 5 weed-whackers from Rusty to use for THOR and Martin hauled them all over. It's kinda sick, but I am excited now, that I have my "own" whacker:)
But tell you what, our garage starts looking, like a gardening service (or bike shop), depending what corner you look at.

I am excited, because, I got four more Hostas, one Daisy and three white Coneflowers to plant.
I did that this afternoon. I will have to take some pictures....

The following is one of my prides: my pink hardy Hibiscus:

The blooms are as big as dinner plates!!

P.S.: The Tour is over and Contador won. I am happy for him. He is 24 years old and a new-commer. Hopefully they don't find any "dirt" on him. Their 's got to be some clean riders...

THOR Duty at Swanson

I am still feeling a bit under the weather, so Martin went out by himself to ride. Actually that is not true. For the first lap at Jewels Park he got Mr. Whiskers with him. Then he put him in the car and did two more laps. After he dropped him off at home he said, he wanted to go out to Swanson, because the weather was so nice. I sad, go for it.

After, about an hour he was back and reported that there is a big tree down and he would need my help...OK. Packed up all the tools, the dog and off we went.
The tree turned out to be a branch, but a HUGE branch, with a diameter of easily a foot or even more.
I forgot to bring my camera, bummer!
It fell, in the back area. On the west side of the fire department and it was too big to move so me made it into a new log-crossing...yeah!!!! (I keep forgetting that I don't like them)
We spend good two hours out there and finally had it the way Mr. Trailmaster wanted it:)

We even had a few guys come trough and test ride it. They like it!

I have to admit, that I want to go out there now and ride the log myself:) Hopefully by tomorrow, my cold will be gone and I will be pretty much back to normal...

Important was today also, that I sent molto importante paperwork to Germany to get my diploma from my Law School. The one place I applied for wants to see it. I see it as a good sign.
Hopefully, I finally find some qualified work.

Race Season 2007

I can't believe that the first race of 2007 is already in the end of February. That is way too early! But I guess, ignorance works only till the first race starts and then what, so pedal, pedal, pedal...
Today we had the first THOR meeting of the year. Thanks to the Bike Masters for hosting it. We got a good thing rolling. All I can say is: "Watch out Wheeds, we don't have respect for you!"
Well, I gotta take Mr. Whiskers out and then it is almost time to go to bed.