yeah, it was a little bit...

dry, windy, & 40 something.  great last day of '11 riding dub-g. awesome!


- Posted by t-nuts mobile

consider this...

madison county sleigh ride from t-nuts on Vimeo.

merry merry...

uh oh, new gadget alert...

have a good one all!

later,

tk

kickin' it off...

the three-dayer that is, first of two. damn right!

b-o-11 part 2, can't go wrong with this jam. no shortage of versions out there, I'll just grab one. turn it up, sit back, commence the head a bobbin'...



stay tuned,

TK

B-o-11...

hard to choose but Beirut floats to the top. My favorite song, Santa Fe.  This npr session is sweet, wish I had the xmu session to share as well but I don't...



how do I pick my best of?  satellite radio is on in our house from the time we get up to until we go to bed, been that way for years.  partly because we like a backdrop of tunes but also because we think it keeps the dogs "occupied", less mischief maybe? the latter is probably wishful thinking.  we hear a lot of songs many many times & the ones that I can listen to over & over again fall into the "best of", at least that's the formula I'm going with...

stay tuned,

TK

NE R.o.Y...

nebraska rider of the year...well mine at least.

Trans Iowa - Finisher
Royal 162 - Finisher
Dirty Kanza - Finisher
Gravel Worlds - Finisher

That's a helluva lot of gravel racing.

Good job buddy.

Later,

TK

+1...

what a day! rolled out around 35 & settled into the low 40's with a light westerly, damn nice! ran into some peeps out by conestoga - PC, Janna, Lis, & Ryan.  they had the same plan as myself, enjoying it! we wished each other a great rest of the day & I pushed on.  just a few clicks later I met some new friends...

one by one, 4 outta the six made its way to the fence to introduce themselves. we were all in agreement, what a beautiful day!  (#4 not pictured, picture sucked)

horses are hard to read, at least for me. a dog...their a lot easier, you got the tail wagging, smiling, hopping about or the opposite...barking, growling, standing their ground. worse yet, chasing you on the bike pissed off.

here's how I look at it, if a horse walks up to you I think he/she is probably pretty cool with you being there.  I still take it pretty slow, extend the back of the hand (that's what I do with dogs) let 'em check ya out & proceed with some forehead patting & scratching.

I said goodbye & thought maybe I'd show up with a few apples someday, I'm guessing I'd be 6 for 6 at the fence...

Later,

TK

5 hunge...

A survivor.  Not sure what it is or how it happened but this stuffed animal has been in the mix for 2 years, maybe more.  It's eyes were ripped off on day one like everything introduced into the mix but for some unknown reason it hasn't been torn to shreds & emptied of its stuffing.  It still sees action, getting routinely pulled from the box of toys but never dismembered? 

Day one for this guy...the eyes went straight away then it looks like an ear.  Stuffing was strewn from the kitchen into the living room.  Must have been quite a battle.  I was thinking about setting up some kind of critter cam to see what goes on when were not home, then again...maybe I don't want to know.

oh yeah...this is the 500th post on this damn thing.  I'm glad it could be a such a pithy commentary.  Real "water cooler" material.  Raise your glass, coffee mug, or whatever. Here's to 500 more posts about virtually nothing.  Thanks for tuning in. I can't promise 500 more glances at the trivial & mundane but I'll give it a shot...or not.

Later,

TK

poly styrene thursday...

the way I look at...there's today & tomorrow, then its the weekend.  Hell, I'm seeing some gravel riding as a possibility this weekend.  I'm also seeing TWO three day weekends in the near future, oh yeah!



hang in there...

TK

custom...

...castelli touchpad ready glove.


actually it wore out, but it does work with the iPhone.


- Posted by t-nuts mobile

ssabmud...

2012? hmmmm? After multiple "never again" moments following the finish of last year's TI, time has healed all wounds, well most anyway, and I'm back on the roster for this year's event.  As a finisher it was only a matter of emailing GT to let him know I was planning on coming, a nice change from my last two registrations which involved getting a postcard to him & entry being based on a first-come/first-in basis.  I got in both times but the process was far more involved than just hitting send. My first TI attempt ended at the 2nd checkpoint after 130ish rain soaked miles, I pulled the plug on the event there but still had a historic 40+ mile journey back to Grinnell on the pavement in a driving rain with Sean Mailen & Joe Mann.  Historic.  Last year...I won't get into it, check out my posts if you like, soooo much happened but at the end I finished, 329 miles on my computer.  Still difficult to get my head completely around that number. Some names missing off the roster this year, primarily Mr Ek!  Hope all is well dude, I'll keep my eye on Charlie for you:)  Nice to see both the Braun's on the list, no Joe Fox though?  I think I counted 6 Nebraskans, a few down from last year.  Oh yeah, one last thing...I signed up for single speed? Why? Why not.  Dumbass...

photo: Steve Fuller

Long live the PCL! Keep gravel racing free! Thanks GT for giving it another go!

Later,

TK

yeah I'm bored...

My least favorite snow event scenario, rain followed by rain/snow followed by wet snow, followed by snow, followed by sub-freezing temperatures. Makes my commute sketch, streets lumpy with ice & all.  Been running with the dogs the last couple weeks, I'll call it jogging not running.  Calling it running is an insult to runners.  The dogs of course are naturals, even the little one.  Me...various aches & pains but they are subsiding.



Be safe,

TK

saturday...

 all day!



cold & wet, but enjoy!

Later,

TK

It's all about...

...the snacks. Custom mega-mix!

wasabi peas
habanero pretzels
chex mix




- Posted by t-nuts mobile

tuesday flow...

I'm in winter mode but it's still November, I better come up with a plan...soon.

riking...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

worship...

...the three day work week.  Be thankful.

and...

...it's over.  CX season that is.  I'm done.  Somehow made it through Louisville & that was my short term goal, or was it my longterm?  Quit while your ahead or at least while you perceive your ahead.  I don't feel happy I'm done but at this point it feels like I would be forcing it.  I felt great in Louisville, both days.  Big show, big fields, good time.  Quit while your ahead.

I knew months ago I wouldn't make it to the last USGP stop when they moved the races from Portland to Bend.  Portland was a strong possibility but Bend made it a challenge.  Too much effort to get to Bend, Portland made way more sense.  Bend venue is pretty sweet but off the beaten path.  Too much cash outlay to race a couple sub-40 minute races.  Last year the USGP finale was in Portland followed by Nats the following weekend in Bend, trip made more sense last year.  Raced 5 times in 7 days.

Nats...I knew a year ago when they moved Nats to January that I probably wouldn't make it.  Too late, I can't even keep the fire burning into December.  It has usually taken everything I've got to make it through Nats in December let alone in January. Worlds...was never on my radar.  I won't rule it out completely but there's a 1% chance that I might go to Nats.

Been sick all week but felt the worst yesterday, haven't missed the local since I started racing in '04.  Woke up today feeling better in some respects but worse in others.  It needed to be way warmer than it is for me to drag my ass out there today.

So now what?  Shit, I don't know.  Maybe I'll bundle up & go clean the leaves out of the gutters.

Later,

TK

it's coming...

...a review that is of this year's rides.  Been riding & racing them for around 3 months, I've had plenty of time to form an opinion & it's all good!  Thanks Curtis!

don't know when I'll elaborate but in the mean time pay curtis a visit...

Later,

TK

hey cookie...

I hate being away from home.  Road trips are getting harder & harder to get fired up for. I love big races but damn it's taking its toll, somethings gotta give...

 If I can just make it through this weekend...

staying "uptown" never hurts...

file treads rocked it all weekend...

bye L-ville...

So how'd it go?  Actually...really well.  Best 2 days of racing I've had in quite a while, mentally & physically.

Season over yet?  Probably, maybe...shit I don't know.  I do know I'm home:)

Later,

TK

the horses are on the track...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

ugh...

...here we go again. I'm ready to be home. Shit! We haven't left yet...



More later,

tk

one love...

made it down to somewhere in the KC area Saturday to race.  albeit a short course, it had some tough bits.  the 360 crew laid out a good track. even more memorable than the racing was the overall good vibe, thick.  a few years back I used to race down there all the time, road & cx.  made lots of bonds with folks.  it was great seeing some people I hadn't seen in a while & seeing some I only see once a year maybe.  lap after lap the cheers & support from all those in attendance kept the fire stoked.  thanks.

reloading for louisville this weekend, trying to keep it all together...

Later,

TK

063...

...it takes a lot of courage to go out there & radiate your essence



stand by...

TK

funny...

...the puddle right after the start/finish was the least of my worries.  Sitting on the trainer before the race I had told myself that I was going to avoid that puddle & not start the race off with wet feet.  I already knew the course from a pre-ride on Saturday so no need to leave the comfort of the tent & trainer.  After the whistle & my successful avoidance of the "the puddle" after the start, it wasn't long before I discovered the three stream crossings on the course created by the heavy rain/wet snow that fell all day. Wet feet, deal with it.  I've raced in colder & wetter conditions...whatever.  KC Nats in '07 it was in the 20's, snowing, & we had to ride through two big ponds each lap.  That was wet & cold!

Thanks to all that make the Wednesday-nighters happen.  It pretty much sets the tone for my Thursday, tired & out of it.  Seriously though, thanks to those who help pull it off.

I'd guess maybe 8 people made the 1 hour trip up from Lincoln, good job to all those that did & to everyone else that ventured out of their warm homes to willingly make themselves uncomfortable.

Later,

TK

11-2-11...

made it through all of yesterday without realizing it was 11.1.11, I'm guessing that's not going to happen again for a while.  9 days & it'll be 11.11.11, I''ll be ready this time.

mid-weeker in Omaha tonite, feels more like a race than our local wednesday affairs. Must be the having to drive an hour to the venue plus having to pack the kitchen sink due to the weather forecast.

best part about today is getting outta work a bit early...

reconnoiter...

thanks lucas & mod for hosting, good times...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

asking myself...

                          

                                                                                                       

why....

we made it, enjoy the weekend.

TK

half-way there...

well not quite. wednesday is one of my favorite days, 40% of the week is behind me, by noon I'll be half-way there. by quitting time, 60% bagged.  while the week crawls by, the weekend seems to end before it hardly gets going & the cycle begins again.

what a fall we're having, the best I can remember...

Later,

TK

Shutter down...

...it was a good crop year.

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

respect...

biker billy... 

fucking weekend couldn't have come soon enough...

TK

farewell...

...biker billy


you won't soon be forgotten, our freezer is stocked with your heat...


- Posted by t-nuts mobile

high dessert...

yum...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

the pits...

...a little quieter this evening.






- Posted by t-nuts mobile

hunters...

...or ?




- Posted by t-nuts mobile

nbc...

friday's pre-ride...mid 60's, dry, dusty

saturday...mid 40's & North wind blowing.  started in a drizzle & finished in pouring rain, frozen...

sunday...sun came back out, dried the mud & ended up being a beautiful day in the 50's.

 crazy weekend...

how'd my races go?  did I have fun?  I'll give my racing a c+.  Thanks Woody & MT in the pits, seemed like I was in and out a bunch this weekend.

Saw some peeps I hadn't seen in a while & it's always cool seeing all the regulars on tour...

What's up next?  Local stuff for a bit then & then KY in a few weeks.

Later,

TK

whole lotta love...

one of the best things about racing in FoCo is my parent's live here:) thanks for putting up with us (letting us take over your house!) & cheering us on at the races! Had a spot of trouble today but finished 12th (I think), ehhhh. It was fun (I think).







- Posted by t-nuts mobile

8...

...th


- Posted by t-nuts mobile

not at work...

Oh yeah!


- Posted by t-nuts mobile

me love...

cookies!!





Snickers inside doesn't hurt either...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile